When It Comes to French Elections, Bishops Are As Lost As Their Flock
By Anne-Benedicte Hoffner
The atmosphere is likely to be tense. Even more than in November when sexual abuse by priests overtook the agenda, informal discussions are set to reveal that Catholics, and to a greater extent bishops, have not been spared the sense of disarray that pervades society. The publication by the Mediapart website of the results of a year-long inquiry into pedophilia in the Church, and the simultaneous broadcast by the France 2 TV station of a documentary on the same subject feed into this.Some clerics see the coverage as just an umpteenth episode in a hostile media campaign, one characterized by dishonesty, the conflation of 30-year-old incidents with new ones, and a lack of objectivity.But others admit that the questions being raised are valid. “We no longer hear this idea of having it in for the Church,” said one recently appointed bishop. “This media pressure, which forces us to go further, more quickly, is not so bad.”“Everyone is discredited today: journalists, Muslims, politicians, and we the Church,” lamented one of his colleagues, who said he was tired of “paying the price" of those within the Church who refuse to face up to reality.“We really have to change our attitude and start with the victims,” he said. Auxiliary Bishop of Paris, Monsignor Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, acknowledged this, describing the TV documentary as “hard to watch, but salubrious".“You cannot deny that this is serious. All this shows that the measures that have been decided, and which we all agree on, must be applied everywhere,” he added. “We need to be deal with this very quickly.”Clearly, the credibility of the Church is at stake. There is a risk if the response fails to meet expectations, of the issue eclipsing all other subjects discussed.At the end of October, the text published ahead of the French presidential election by the permanent council of the Episcopal Conference - In a Changing World, Rediscover a Sense of Politics - was well received in the press and in political circles as a rare example of deep reflection.Since then, there’s been nothing or almost nothing, except the odd parish conference. Why this media silence?“First of all, [journalists] don’t always come to the bishops. And some of the bishops are afraid of the media,” according to one of them. He is well aware of the extent to which, busy with problems in their dioceses, bishops “lack the time to step back to analyze the bigger picture".The risk of media coverage and over-personalisation puts off even the bravest.“We are left with generalities," lamented Dominique Rey, Bishop of Frejus-Toulon, who is known as something of a maverick. He criticized a “powerful media which somewhat stifles free speech".Also weighing heavily on the meeting is the absence of conference chairman Georges Pontier, Archbishop of Marseille, and of Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, who are both hospitalized.“In troubled times, they can usually forge a path,” explained once Lourdes conference veteran.In the wake of the shock of Brexit, the election of Donald Trump and a spate of terrorist attacks all over the world, “people are scared, disoriented and even paralyzed", said another bishop. “It’s true in the Church, too. There’s no escaping it.”“People show solidarity after attacks, but one senses this unity is fragile, added Mgr. de Beaufort.Voters are confused by an election campaign that has run around amid scandals. In particular, stressed another bishop, those who supported right-wing candidate Francois Fillon, “especially in the light of the positions he’s taken, explicitly presenting himself as a Christian and relying on the networks of the common good.”“Having spoken with the bishops of my province, the campaign seems to be taking such a turn that we, too, are a little lost,” acknowledged a bishop. He sees around him “a lot of undecided voters” who fears speaking out, “adding to the general cacophony".Among bishops, the subject of politics is no longer taboo, according to several of them. They cited the invitation of far-right candidate Marion Marechal-Le Pen two years ago by the summer university of the De Frejus-Toulon diocese, which was discussed at the subsequent episcopal conference.“The word ‘debate’ is a bit strong; I’d talk instead of a ‘juxtaposition of opposing views'", said one bishop. “But at least everyone speaks.”One of his colleagues added that the exchanges were “discreet".There’s a major question that could trouble this civilized atmosphere: What if Le Pen gets to the second round of the election?The question is tricky because views vary so much and there is no clear answer. “Some of us could vote for her,” said one of those at the conference. “I really understand that if I say something to my congregation in an attempt to calm things down I might do the exact opposite,” said another, older bishop.In the last elections, the episcopal conference took no position on Le Pen “because we were sure she would not be elected", he added.“But this time it is not impossible. What do we do?”It’s a question on everybody’s lips.
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