Laïcité
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In French, some other Romance Languages, and Turkish, laïcité (pronounced /laisi'te/), Turkish: laiklik or laisizm, Italian: laicità or laicismo, is a prevailing conception of the separation of church and state and the absence of religious interference into government affairs (and vice versa). While it is thought that there is no English word that captures the exact meaning of "laïcité" which comes from the Greek λαϊκός which means secular, but it is related to the English word laity or laymen, and laicity is the English-natural spelling or rendering of the French foreign term. There is a difference between laicity, a political theory aimed at separating politics and religion with the goal of promoting religious freedom, and secularism in the sense of the declining importance of faith in individuals' daily lives (although the terms "secularism" and "secularity" are sometimes used in the sense described here). One who believes (or practices) laicism is a laicist.
The term "laicity", in its current sense, implies free exercise of religion, but no special status for religion: religious activities should submit to the same set of laws as other activities and are not considered above the law. The government refrains from taking positions on religious doctrine and only considers religious subjects from their practical consequences on the inhabitants' lives.
France
The French government is legally prohibited from recognizing any religion (except for legacy statutes like those of military chaplains and Alsace-Moselle). Instead, it merely recognizes religious organizations, according to formal legal criteria that do not address religious doctrine:
- whether the sole purpose of the organization is to organize religious activities;
- whether the organization does not disrupt public order.
Laicity does not necessarily imply, by itself, any hostility of the government with respect to religion. It is best described a belief that government and political issues should be kept separate from religious organizations and religious issues (as long as the latter do not have notable social consequences). This is meant to protect both the government from any possible interference from religious organizations, and to protect the religious organization from political quarrels and controversies.
French political leaders, though not prohibited from making religious remarks, generally refrain from demonstrating openly that their policies are directly inspired by religious considerations. Christine Boutin, who openly argued on religious grounds against a legal domestic partnership available regardless of the sex of the partners, including homosexual couples (see PACS), was quickly marginalized. Religious disputation is generally considered incompatible with reasoned political debate. Of course, political leaders may openly practice their religion (for instance, president Jacques Chirac is a Catholic), but they are expected to refrain from mixing their private religious life with their public functions.
The French consider religion a private matter, and any ostentatious display is generally out-of-place. Civil servants are supposed to be neutral with respect to politics and religion and to keep a certain reserve; ostentatious displays of religious affiliation may be banned.
The term was originally the French equivalent of the term laity, i.e. everyone who is not Catholic clergy. After the French Revolution this meaning changed and it came to mean keeping religion separate from the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. This includes prohibitions on having a state religion. This also includes prohibitions for the government to endorse any religious position, be it a religion or atheism.
Although the term was current throughout the nineteenth century, France did not fully separate church and state until the passing of a law in 1905 requiring separation of church and state, prohibiting the state from recognizing or funding any religion (although it would not stop funding those already in place before 1905, i.e. Catholic churches). In the areas occupied by Germany at that time, which did not return to France until 1918, some German-style arrangements for the cooperation of church and state are still in effect today (see Alsace-Moselle).
The term is currently a core concept in the French constitution, whose Article 1 formally states that France is a secular republic ("La France est une République, unie, indivisible, laïque et sociale."). Many see being discreet with one's religion as a necessity of being French. This has led to frequent divisions with non-Christian immigrants, especially with France's large Muslim population. The most recent debate has been over whether any religious apparel or displays, such as the hijab, Sikh turban and large Christian crosses and Stars of David, should be banned from public schools. Finally after much political debate a law has been recently voted to ban them in schools, see French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools.
United States
In the United States, the First Amendment to the Constitution contains a similar concept, although the term "laicity" is not used either in the Constitution or elsewhere. That amendment includes clauses prohibiting both governmental interference with the "free exercise" of religion, as well as governmental "establishment" of religion. These clauses have been held by the courts to apply to both the federal and state governments. Together, the "free exercise clause" and "establishment clause" are considered to accomplish a "separation of church and state."
However, separation is not extended to bar religious conduct in public places or by public servants. Public servants, up to and including the U.S. President, often make proclamations of religious faith. In contrast to France, the wearing of religious insignia in public schools is largely noncontroversial as a matter of law in the U.S.; however, harassment of minority religious adherents is commonplace in some areas.
See also
- Politics of Turkey
- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
- Secular state
- Civil religion
- Secularism
- Separation of church and state
- Secular Humanism
- 1905 French law on the separation of Church and State
- Republican People's Party (Turkey)
External links
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