 | |
| Predecessor | Cité catholique |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1999 (1999) |
| Dissolved | 2023 |
| Purpose | Started as a Conservative Christianlobby group; changed its status in 2016 and became a French political party |
| Headquarters | Argenteuil (Val-d'Oise),France |
| Methods | Teaching classes, conferences, protests |
| Fields | Traditionalist Catholic activism |
| Membership | c. 1000 (2013) |
President | Alain Escada |
Main organ | Civitas — Revue catholique des questions politiques et sociales |
| Website | www |
Civitas, also known asFrance Jeunesse Civitas andInstitut Civitas, was[1] an association generally considered to beTraditionalist Catholic,integrist,[2][3][4]nationalist,[5] and of theextreme right.[6][7][8][9] The association defines itself as a "Traditionalist Catholic lobby group".[4] The group was once associated with theSociety of St. Pius X, but it has evolved under the new leadership ofAlain Escada and the "chaplaincy"[further explanation needed] is now provided by Capuchin Friars of Morgon.[10] On February 14, 2023, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) released a report in which it classified Civitas as a "religious nationalist", "anti-LGBTQ+", and "conspiracy" group.[11]
Civitas was formed in 1999. It, andICHTUS[further explanation needed], were split out from theintegristCité catholique movement[12][13] founded by the pro-Vichy intellectualJean Ousset.[14]
Its media prominence dates from the appointment of its current president,Alain Escada, aBelgian militant of theextreme right with a background ofTraditionalist Catholicism andBelgian nationalism,[15][16] and an ex-member of theNew Belgian Front (French:Front nouveau de Belgique, FNB), from which he was expelled in 1997.[17]
Escada became the secretary-general of Civitas in 2009. In 2012, he replacedFrançois de Penfentenyo as president of Civitas.
At the start of 2013, Civitas claimed 1,000 members and 170,000 "sympathisers" on its mailing list.[18] Civitas had ambitions of winning 300 seats in theFrench municipal elections of 2014.[19]
In 2016, Civitas announced a status change, from a cultural organization to a French political party.[20] It is a major part of theCoalition pour la Vie et la Famille, a tiny European party.
On 4 October 2023, Civitas was officially dissolved by the French government.[1]
Civitas promotes thereChristianisation of France and Europe. It defines itself as a social and political movement in the "Traditionalist Catholic lobby",[4] a "movement whose cause is the restoration to society of the kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ".[21] It is not interested in taking part in abstract political theory, but instead teaches "techniques... useful in discussions on the subversive dialectic, learning fundamental skills for effective action: speaking in public meetings, launching associations, concrete action, etc."[22]
For historianÉtienne Fouilloux, this militant association, in promoting the establishment of the restoration of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth, is againstrepublicanism and thus theFrench Republic itself:
Civitas joue dans les mouvements catholiques un rôle homologue à celui des trotskystes ou des anarchistes dans les manifestations de gauche [...] celui d'une minorité agissante moins soucieuse de solutions concrètes que de tension révolutionnaire (ou contre-révolutionnaire)
[In Catholic circles, Civitas plays a role similar to that of Trotskyites or Anarchists in Leftist demonstrations ..., they are an activist minority less interested in finding concrete solutions than fomenting revolutionary (or counter-revolutionary) tension]
— Étienne Fouilloux,Réflexions d’historien sur la loi Taubira (2013)[23]
Civitas came to public attention in 2011, in Paris, when it demonstrated for several consecutive evenings in opposition to the performance of some plays, notablyRomeo Castellucci'sSur le concept du visage du fils de Dieu (originalItalian:Sul concetto di volto nel figlio di Dio, "On the concept of the Son of God's face") at theThéâtre de la Ville — one performance was interrupted by militants who climbed on stage and threw eggs and waste oil over the audience[24] — but also against theThéâtre du Rond-Point who were performingRodrigo Garcia'sGolgota Picnic, which they judged blasphemous.[25]
Civitas denounced what it called "Christianophobia" and organised another, larger demonstration on 29 October 2011, while CardinalAndré Vingt-Trois, the president of theBishops' Conference of France, restated that the demonstratorsne disposent d'aucun mandat pour défendre l’Église ("Had no mandate to defend the Church").[26]
34 people were arrested for having disturbed the playSur le concept du visage du fils de Dieu at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris in October 2011.[25] 32 were arrested and in June 2013 appeared before a Paris tribunal for "obstructingfreedom of expression", which carried a fine of up to€5,000. Two defendants were found not guilty, three found guilty with fines of €1,500, €1,800, and €2,000, the others fined between €600 and €800.[27][28]
In June 2012, Civitas released a tract with the sloganConfieriez-vous des enfants à ces gens-là? ("Would you trust your children with these men?"). On the photo, of a gaypride parade, one can see two naked men.[29]
In November 2012, Civitas organised a march from the Ministry of the Family to theAssemblée Nationale, demonstrating against the policy of "Marriage for all"; according to police sources, nearly 8,000 people marched against "homofolie" ("gay madness").[30]
On 13 January 2013, the associationLa Manif pour tous — organised to protest the proposed law allowingsame-sex marriage, but which excluded Civitas[31] — called for a national demonstration against the proposed law. Civitas militants, who had opposed the "Barjot concept", gathered to leave from thePlace Pinel.[32] They protested against same-sex marriage with the motto "Catholics for the Family". The organisers claimed attendance of 50,000, but police sources claimed around 8,000,[33] while reports differed across the media, such as inLe Monde[34] andLe Nouvel Observateur.[35]L'Express said there were "several thousand demonstrators".[36]
At the end of January 2014, Civitas backedFarida Belghoul, who had initiatedjournées de retrait de l'école ("stay away from school days") in protest against the supposed teaching of what she called "gender theory" (French:théorie du genre, more often calledGender studies) in public establishments. In this context, Civitas was criticised for a photo series on its website showing a sex education teacher in compromising sexual positions.[37] Accused by the Press and his opponents of spreading false rumours[38] (the photo came from Canada), Civitas justified their actions by saying they did not have the means to authenticate its origins and it was not out of character for their chosen subject. In response,Le Monde published an article demonstrating that it was trivial and quick to authenticate the origin of the images.[38]
A new row developed some days later, when Civitas called for harassment of the TV networkArte to prevent broadcast of the critically acclaimed filmTomboy, which Civitas called "gender theory propaganda" (propagande pour l’idéologie du genre). Civitas stated thatCe film ne répond pas à la mission d’Arte qui est de "concevoir, réaliser et diffuser des émissions de télévision ayant un caractère culturel ("This film does not fulfill Arte's mission as the 'inventor, maker and broadcaster of television programmes of a cultural nature'"). Civitas advocated protestingpoliment mais fermement! Par téléphone, par fax ou par mail ("Politely, but firmly, by telephone, fax or post").[39][40]
Civitas' actions against the Romeo Castellucci play was deprecated by diverse groups including the Mayor of Paris and senior Catholic dignitaries.[41]
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, a Government spokesmen, said that Civitas' sloganNon à l'homofolie ("No to gay madness"), used at the November 2012 demonstration, was "misplaced". Other incidents occurred on the margins of the event. Some members of the feminist groupFEMEN, topless and wearing a parody of a nun's habit, used powder fire extinguishers to spray demonstrators[42] including, according to the organisers, children. JournalistCaroline Fourest, anAFP photographer and FEMEN[43] were attacked[44] and some were beaten.[45][46] The police made five arrests. After these incidents, six socialistdéputés[47] (elected politicians) demanded the break-up of Civitas.[48][unreliable source?]
According to the historianGalia Ackerman, it is part of Civitas' order of service to attackFemen.[49] According to the writerRené Guitton:
L'institut intégriste avait voulu se distinguer des autres courants catholiques en initiant sa propre marche, celle en marge de laquelle des militantes féministes et des journalistes furent agressés par des participants au défilé
[Thisintegrist institution had wanted to distinguish itself from other Catholic groups by having its own march, on the margins of which feminists and journalists were attacked by the marchers]
— René Guitton,La France des intégristes extrémistes juifs, chrétiens, musulmans (2013)[50]
But according to Civitas, the demonstration was a "victim" of militant feminists.[42] Siding with Civitas,Jacques Bompard, deputy mayor ofOrange, denounced the feminists who, according to him, were responsible for the outbursts.[51] Civitas said they had filed a complaint for exhibitionism.[52][53] Caroline Fourest, one of those involved in the violence, also filed a complaint.[54]
Civitas publishes a quarterly review entitledCivitas – Revue catholique des questions politiques et sociales ("Civitas – Catholic review of political and social questions"). It publishes news about the movement, and analyses the major political themes of the day.
Les catholiques intégristes sont arrivés à Port-Royal. Le cortège est composé de quelques milliers de manifestants. Un groupe des jeunesses nationalistes est présent, avec une centaine de skinheads. Ils sont toujours très encadrés par la police pour prévenir tout débordement.
dimanche 13 January, quelques milliers de manifestants opposés au mariage entre personnes de même sexe ont répondu présents à l'appel lancé par l'institut Civitas, proche des catholiques intégristes
Les catholiques intégristes et nationalistes, fortement encadrés par la police, ont répondu dimanche à l'appel de Civitas. Ils étaient quelques milliers à défiler en marge des trois défilés organisés par "La Manif pour tous".
Au cours de la manifestation organisée dimanche par l'institut Civitas contre le mariage gay, des militantes du mouvement féministe ukrainien Femen ont été agressées. Le reportage photo de notre envoyé spécial, Mehdi Chebil
