The reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral after five years has sparked joy and hope among Christians worldwide, but behind the grand ceremony lies a shadow of secularism in France. President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to preserve the cathedral have been overshadowed by his own questionable stances on faith and his government’s institutional crises.
While the French government’s restoration of the cathedral is commendable, it has been criticized for not taking measures to prevent the fire that damaged it. The causes of the fire are still unknown, but experts argue that better preservation efforts could have prevented the disaster. Macron’s speech during the reopening ceremony was praised by some as a nod to Christian hope, but others see it as insincere, given his government’s own anti-Catholic policies.
Macron’s behavior in the cathedral has also raised eyebrows. He initially intended to hand over the keys to the head of the local Church, but Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich refused, citing the principle of laicité. Instead, Macron gave a speech inside the cathedral, accompanied by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who is an atheist and has promoted projects that replace Catholic schools with social housing.
The reopening ceremony also highlighted the decline of Catholic authority in France. Jérôme Fourquet’s book Métamorphoses françaises notes that the French society is undergoing a great ideological shift, with a loss of influence for Catholicism. This is reflected in the constitutionalization of abortion and same-sex marriage, which were passed despite opposition from Catholics.
Despite Macron’s efforts to promote hope and unity through Notre Dame, few doubt that this event would have drawn such widespread attention if it weren’t tied to his government’s reputation. The cathedral remains a powerful symbol of Western civilization and identity, one that can unite people across faiths. As the statue of the Virgin Mary was the first to enter the newly restored cathedral, it serves as a reminder of the enduring power of faith in human history.
Source: https://www.ncregister.com/news/notre-dame-s-reopening-and-church-s-lost-authority