State and church in France : regulation and negotiation

International audienceIn France the distinction between the secular and <br /> religious domains is the result of a slow evolutionary process <br /> of secularization over a period of two centuries. A key <br /> element was the law of separation between churches and State <br /> in 1905. Secularization also produced a pluralistic <br /> socio-cultural system, which permits an increase in religious <br /> supply, issued from outside or inside existent churches. The <br /> religious landscape became complex due to the growth of <br /> certain groups. Nowadays, efforts to regulate Muslim <br /> communities are leading towards a new tendency of state <br /> control of religious activities in two fields, namely places <br /> of worship and school activities. Religious plurality is <br /> recognized by the State in the name of the freedom of beliefs. <br /> Private organizations are used for the public practice of <br /> religion and easily obtain places of worship. However, this <br /> has necessitated a large number of regional or local <br /> arrangements. In the name of the freedom of thought, the <br /> school system of the Republic is ensured by public schools, or <br /> by Catholic or Jewish schools, subject to strict public <br /> control. In this matter, there is only minimal tolerance of <br /> other denominations