Celebrated every year on December 9th, the anniversary of the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State, the Day of Secularism takes on a particularly symbolic character this year. Secularism is one of the strong values championed by the Radical Party, alongside Europe, freedom, and solidarity.
On this occasion, Hervé CAEL, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Federation of the Radical Party, reflects on secularism: “the backbone of the Republic, a principle that is both a message of firmness and peace, an outstretched hand, and a clenched fist. It is the most beautiful tribute reason pays to the freedom to believe. Because secularism is not synonymous with ‘exclusion’ but with ‘inclusion.’ Secularism is not a denunciation; it addresses all beliefs,” he stated during a debate held at the Nice headquarters of the party in the presence of many members and supporters.
For him: “The State must ensure that it does not favor any particular doctrine, whether it is a religious or non-religious belief. The Radicals have contributed decisively to the triumph of the idea of state neutrality, which is the foundation of our Republic. Thus, secularism represents a point of balance in the action of the State: it ensures that religions and diverse beliefs can develop and express themselves freely and publicly, but it forbids favoring one over the other and ensures that none limits the free choice of citizens. Therefore, secularism is by no means, for the Radicals, a weapon to combat any particular religion.
