Episode 12: Religion and the Early Revolution

Living the French Revolution and Age of Napoleon

Dr Suzanne M Desan

Film Review

The Catholic church was the second most powerful institute, after the monarchy, In pre-revolutionary France. Prior to the revolution, all births, marriages and deaths were tracked, not by local government, but by the local parish. Often the priest was the only villager who could read and write, which made him an essential link to the outside world. In many instances, peasants who worked church lands had church officials as their feudal lords.

During the 18th century Enlightenment, the number of priests, monks and nuns, as well as attendance at Easter mass, steadily declined as Enlightenment philosophers questioned the wealth and power of the church.

As the revolution progressed, the National Assembly began (against strong right wing opposition) nationalizing and selling off church lands to help pay the national debt. Six to seven percent of church land changed hands before strong popular opposition stalled the reforms.

In addition to selling off land, the National Assembly became very critical of monks and nuns, especially those from contemplative orders. Bolstered by a scandal involving clergy and monks who patronized brothels, in February 1790 monastic vows were abolished (except for orders that taught or cared for the sick and poor). Some monks, pressured into vows of celibacy, readily agreed with these changes, especially as it was fairly easy for men to find jobs outside the monastery.

The National Assembly also created a Civil Constitution of the Clergy, in which the clergy became government employees and received government salaries. This was great for clergy, who got a pay rise, but not for bishops, who pay was reduced. This mandate also provided for the electoral assemblies of each department to elect their priests and bishops.

In 1791, the National Assembly passed their most controversial religious reform, which required all clergy to take a loyalty oath to the nation, law and king. Louis XVI reluctantly agreed to it. When the Pope condemned it, there was a flurry of retractions. Eventually roughly half the 83 new departments accepted the loyalty oath. Only seven bishops agreed to it.

Rural women began to lead protests opposing it (and the revolution). New priests had to be found in parishes where the priest refused to take the oath – some parishes had two priests (one “juring”* and one non-juring)

By 1792, many outlawed priests were secretly performing masses.

*From the French word jurer “to swear.”

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/149323/149347