A blow on democracy

France took the streets in Paris, on Sunday January 13 especially to defend a democratic process, i.e. to take part in a national debate on a fundamental theme for the life of society and children, where everyone can express their opinions, knowing that their voices will be heard. This is the interpretation given by French scholar Jean-Dominique Durand, professor at the Lyon’s Jean Moulin University, to the successful outcome of the demonstration titled "Manif pour tous" (everyone’s demonstration), interviewed by Maria Chiara Biagioni, for SIR Europe. What does it mean for France to witness such a large number of people march in defense of the family? "It means that the bill that opens to marriage for gay couples has caused a divide in the French population, at a time when, given the ongoing financial crisis and the Country’s military involvement in a new conflict in Africa, the government’s sole concern should be the promotion of unity. Two arguments explain the success of the event: the denial to open to assisted fertilization to homosexual couples, that would radically affect the family unit, entailing the right of parenthood to the detriment of the right of children. French public opinion is upset by the fact that the fundamental filiation rights are being questioned and that the bill is set to abolish all French laws regarding the rights of mothers and fathers (although the government appears to have second thoughts to this regard). Secondly, French public opinion objects the government’s refusal to hold a debate, namely to proceed along its line without taking the time to listen. Public figures that spoke during dedicated parliament auditions appear to have been selected with care, giving the idea of a caricature. In fact, Socialist MEPs who oppose the bill are being denied the right to express their dissent and will be compelled to vote in favour of the bill! Freedom of conscience doesn’t exist for them. This situation triggers an unbearable degree of discontent in a modern democracy. The speech by the Minister of Education, aimed at preventing public debates in Catholic highschools, motivated by ‘secular’ reasons, had been negatively received by the French Catholic population. Notably, a new bill legalizing experiments on embryos was adopted at night time with the votes of a small group of MEPs. This came as another blow on the public opinion".Although the Church has welcomed the march it kept a low profile to avoid the event from taking on a confessional connotation. What is role of the Catholic Church in political debate? "The Catholic Church, along with other religions, intends to voice her stance in public debates, whilst avoiding political interferences. The Church’s position, expressed by the bishops, along with that of non-Catholic religions, conveyed by their respective religious leaders, is very clear: opposing a bill doesn’t imply opposition to the government. The bishops have specifically emphasized the dangerous aspects of the law in the name of natural law and Christian anthropology, in the full respect of the government and of all those living their homosexuality".Is there a risk that the Church may be identified with the more traditionalist part of society? "What happened on Sunday 13 doesn’t involve the Catholic Church alone. The march extended beyond French Catholicism. The reflections by Muslim, Protestant and Jewish leaders (let it suffice to the outstanding remarks by Chief Rabbi Gilles Bernheim, quoted by Benedict XVI) share the same views on the family and the human person. On numerous occasions the bishops have underlined the respect that is due to the human person, highlighting the difference between mistakes and those who commit them, established by John XXIII. All of this is unrelated to traditionalism, homophobia, obscurantism… In fact, it is an explicit reference to the fundamental tenets regulating social life. The family is a basic unit, acknowledged in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".Despite the success of the event, president Hollande had declared that there won’t be a second march. How will the "protest" continue? "At present we don’t know whether the protests have impacted the president’s decision, apart from his statement of principles. There is widespread concern that given the possibility of economic collapse, recently adopted measures won’t prevent the opposite from taking place, i.e. an implementation of the controversial proposals, as the government appears to be affected by the Zapatero syndrome. Will common sense prevail? Other battles are on the horizon, such as those on assisted fertilization, surrogate motherhood and euthanasia".