Article
French
ID: <
10670/1.jo1omk>
Abstract
The centennial commemoration of the separation of church and state law suggests several questions about its relationship to the organization of French political life and religion in it. Answering them leads of course to questioning the purely legal aspects of the text but also the method used, after being in committee, to arrive at the definitive vote. The individuals as well as the ideas were important and Aristide Briand’s new political style was essential. Temporary rapporteur, he carried out successfully the works of a moderately separatist commission. Permanent rapporteur, the Loire deputy made the hemicycle deliberation the key moment of the consensual preparatory works. Being attentive to the Catholics on several points, rejecting the extremes of the debate, he succeeded in getting voted, on a singular majority, a measure that successive republican assemblies of the 1880s had balked at or were unable to decide on.