Bill against "separatism", end of life, possible arrival of the Pope in France: the Catholic episcopate shared its topical issues during a meeting Wednesday with Jean Castex and several ministers, we learned with the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) and Matignon.
Read also: Separatism law: the call of the Christian Churches, worried for their freedom
The meeting, which lasted two hours at the end of the day, allowed a
"vast overview,"
Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the CEF, told AFP at the end of this discussion, which is part of the annual dialogue between Catholic officials and public authorities.
Among the subjects raised, was the bill "separatism", while the CEF signed on Wednesday a platform with Protestant and Orthodox officials of France to warn of the dangers of this text which according to them
"undermines"
freedom. of worship and association.
“Points of concern remain,”
said Eric de Moulins-Beaufort.
For him, in general,
"we give instruments to restrict freedoms"
and
"we are in ever more control and ever more surveillance".
The Prime Minister, for his part, said
"that the fears raised were not proven"
, it was pointed out to Matignon.
“Yes, we are adapting the 1905 framework to modern times,”
it was added.
“The prospect of a Pope's trip to France”
hoped for by the episcopate for the fall in Marseille, but which the Sovereign Pontiff has not yet followed up on, was also mentioned.
"We are talking about it but there is nothing specific,"
said Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, who was accompanied by the apostolic nuncio in France, Celestino Migliore, cautiously.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, present, underlined
"that a trip by the Pope to France would be a positive message for France and Europe"
, we told Matignon.
Catholic officials have also expressed their opposition to a possible extension of the abortion period or the possible abolition of the conscience clause for doctors, which are the subject of legislative proposals.
On the end of life,
"the Prime Minister has not made any commitment in one direction or another,
" said the president of the CEF.
"We were told a third plan on palliative care"
, without further details, according to the Archbishop of Reims.
The situation of young people in the face of the health crisis, the difficulties sometimes encountered by chaplains in hospitals and prisons, the fight against child crime and the ecological transition were also mentioned.