Part of the Catholics, whose episcopate said they were "surprised" Tuesday of the government's announcement that religious ceremonies could not take place before June 2, regretting in particular that they could not celebrate Pentecost.
Read also: In France, religions put to the test of confinement
Edouard Philippe announced that the religious ceremonies could not take place "before June 2" , while conceding to know "the impatience of the religious communities" , during the presentation of the strategy of deconfinement in front of the deputies. In a press release, the Conference of Bishops of France said "to take note with regret of this date (...) imposed" ."We share the government's concern to limit the circulation of the epidemic as much as possible, but we find it hard to see that the ordinary practice of mass promotes the spread of the virus and hinders respect for barrier gestures more than many activities that will resume soon" , she wrote in a press release, while assuring that Catholics "will respect the instructions of the government" .
Currently the Catholic churches are open, but no celebration with the public can be held there. The bishop of Bayonne, Marc Aillet, asked himself on Twitter: “aren't there any possible adaptations? (...) Freedom of worship is essential to social life ” . And to say "very surprised to find that the deconfinement plan presented a few days ago to the government" by the episcopate "with very strict recommendations in matters of health precautions, has not been considered at all" .
The Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) has indeed given Friday to the government a plan, considering it "essential" that ecclesial life - masses, marriages, baptisms, etc. - can resume its “community character” from May 11. In this plan, were proposed "a great distancing in the churches" , "organized entrances and exits" and "liturgical measures respecting safety, as in the trades of necessity currently" , specified with AFP Matthieu Rougé, bishop de Nanterre, "disappointed" and feeling "a certain anger" .
Resuming ceremonies is not an emergency for the Conference of the Baptized
"We therefore trust business leaders, (...) local elected officials, traders ... to organize a secure resumption of activity and that's good. Why did Edouard Philippe (cannot) trust the bishops and the parish priests for a cautious resumption of worship? ” , questions Father Grosjean, blogger, of the diocese of Versailles, on twitter. Jean-Pierre Denis, columnist for the Catholic weekly La Vie assures him: “within two days, deprive the faithful of Pentecost (which takes place on May 31, which marks the birth of the Church, and the end of time) pascal) will have a really hard time getting through . "
On the other hand, for the Conference of the baptized, a network of associations of Catholics which was created in 2009 in opposition to a clerical conception of the Church, resuming the ceremonies does not constitute an emergency. The faithful "are not deprived of masses" , these "are broadcast by the public service without forgetting the web and domestic celebrations," she said in a statement.
In addition, "many personal initiatives and Christian groups replace every day the possibility of Sunday meetings (...)," she adds. "The urgency (...) should as a priority be on the ground with the poorest and most isolated" . In the meantime, the Conference of Bishops "encourages the faithful to go to the churches to pray individually" and "recommends to the dioceses and the parishes to continue to offer the means necessary for their life of faith" .