Secularists in France have expressed their outrage on social media after a viral video from a priest at Saint NIcholas du Chardonnet in Paris.
In the video, Father Chautard of the Society of Saint Pius X questions the nature of modern secularism, which has become in many ways about opposing God rather than simply dealing with worldly concerns.
You can read an English translation of his remarks below, provided by French website Fide Post:
"In our current society, what is that cult of secularism ? This is the rejection of God. This is a republican religion, the religion of the godless, inculcated to young children in public schools, high schools and universities. Look at these immoral laws that are being passed. Look at these promoted, legalized, subsidized vices (such as)...abortions, anti natural behaviors, the destruction of the family and the Christian society. Our current society promotes these evils as good things, and condemns those who oppose these evils and seek to ban abortion rights or anti-natural marriages. Now, consider that so-called liberty of thought, of expression...this is indeed the liberty of refusing God's revelation...the liberty of refusing to submit to God's Word. This is what it really means. This an echo of Lucifer's cry. Once again : is it not that our society places the human order, the republican order, above the divine order ? When the late Jacques Chirac said that "there can be no religious law above the law of the Republic", what he not the echo of Lucifer's Non Serviam ?"
French secularists, who barely made a whisper as Catholics were beheaded at Mass in the past few years across the country, raised their voices, calling for the priest to be arrested.
Many tagged interior Minister Gerald Darminin and called for him to storm Saint Nicolas and detain those responsible for criticising secularism.
One individual even called for him to be ‘expelled’ for opposing the ‘values of the Republic’. Given that the Republic was founded upon the genocide of Catholics at the Vendee and elsewhere, it seems natural for a Catholic to feel as such.
Besides, the calls to imprison him only show the truth of what he has said, that society cannot handle dissent from its social programming. Unless it is from radical Muslims of course. Which makes one wonder, is French secularism about giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s or is it about giving to Caesar what is God’s?