In de-christianized France, an increasing proportion of the native population no longer has any idea about Catholicism, its symbols, its rites, and its saints.
Interior minister Christophe Castaner made an official declaration on Wednesday morning in front of Notre Dame, saying: “Notre Dame is not a cathedral.” He added: “It is our common, it is what assembles us, it is our strength, it is our history.”
“That’s not untrue,” remarked editorialist Gabrielle Cluzel on Boulevard Voltaire. “Except that obviously, it’s also all of that BECAUSE it’s a cathedral.”
Bénédicte Le Chatelier, a journalist for the news TV station LCI, went a step farther. She commented live on the fire, saying: “Notre Dame is not a religious location, but the Catholics continue appropriating it to themselves.”
Such absurd statements would have lifted the tension somewhat if they didn’t demonstrate how far removed the powers that be are from the true significance of Notre Dame. Given that all the historic cathedrals and churches of France belong to the State as a consequence of the law of separation between Church and State in 1905, there may be stormy weather ahead when Macron tries to impose his plan to “rebuild” Notre Dame with elements of modern art.