PERHAPS THE ONLY THING THE FRENCH MODEL DID SUCCESSFULLY...:

With pope's visit, Sarkozy challenges French secularism: French politicians don't talk about faith openly. But President Sarkozy wants a more open discussion of the role of religion. (Robert Marquand, 9/15/08, The Christian Science Monitor)

Unlike any French president in decades, Mr. Sarkozy sees a more open role for religion in French society. And he seized upon the conservative German pope's four-day trip to directly challenge French secularism, one of the most prized traditions of La République and a strict legal and cultural sanction against bringing matters of church and faith into the public realm.

Secularism, or laïcité, is central to the modern French identity. It's a result of hundreds of years of efforts to remove the influence of the Roman Catholic church from French institutions and reduce its moral authority.

...was annihilate any pretense of French moral authority.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Pope seeks to heal Nicolas Sarkozy rift at Lourdes mass
• Pope speaks of secularism on first visit to France
• Pope condemns love of money, power
• Pope Drinks Water From Lourdes Spring
• The Pope's Purpose in France

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 14, 2008 7:14 PM