March 25, 2002
French law may not threaten religion to extent feared
___By Mike Creswell
___SBC International Mission Board
___PARIS (BP)--A controversial new law on religion in France may not be the threat to religious liberty some critics had feared, Baptist and evangelical church leaders say.
___The law adopted by the French Senate in May and unanimously approved in June by France's National Assembly will attempt to restrict activities of religious cults deemed dangerous. The law specifies five-year jail terms and $75,000 fines for those who use "manipulation" to encourage conversions.
___Groups are banned from activities aimed at creating or exploiting psychological dependence. Also outlawed is putting heavy and repeated pressure on a person, or using techniques likely to alter his judgment, so as to induce him to behave in a way prejudicial to his interests.
___Under the lengthy 24-article law, French judges can dissolve a religious group whose members are convicted of a criminal offense. Suspect groups are forbidden to advertise and may not seek to enlist new members near schools, hospitals or retirement homes.
___Concern and opposition to the law were aroused in France and abroad by both the law and a list of 172 religious groups the French government said could be dangerous.
___That list included several groups Southern Baptists generally regard as cults, including the Church of Scientology, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. But the list did not include the Southern Baptist Convention as once widely reported.
___The proposed law was attacked by several U.S. legislators. In July, one U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee discussed the law as it investigated alleged religious discrimination in Western Europe. Even bishops of the predominant Roman Catholic Church in France were reported to be divided over the measure.
___Critics in the United States and France warned the law could have a stifling effect on religion, especially for evangelicals committed to sharing their Christian faith with others.
___But leaders of the French Protestant Federation and the French Baptist Evangelical Federation have said they do not yet fear the law will interfere with church life or evangelism. They will have to wait until French courts begin applying the new law in actual cases to see what effects it will have, they said.
___"So far, nothing has changed for us. There are no differences for our churches," said Christian Seytre, general secretary of the Protestant Federation of France. "We sense there is a danger, but we cannot say there is no religious liberty in France.
___"Basically, I would say things are good and we are being vigilant," Seytre added. "If we feel the basic rights of human beings are not being respected, we will react very strongly. I'm sure our president would contact the government."
___French Baptists share that position, said Etienne Lhermenault, general secretary of the Baptist Evangelical Federation of France.
___However, Baptist congregations in France are increasingly adding the word "Protestant" to their names as they seek to avoid being identified as cults.
___"Baptists are increasingly using the word 'Protestant.' Not all, but some have begun calling themselves 'Protestant Baptist Church,'" Lhermenault said.
___While many French people have some general idea that Protestants are a legitimate church group, few would have any idea what an "Evangelical" or "Baptist" is, he explained.
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