Religion, Politics and Preferment in France since 1890: La Belle Epoque and its Legacy

by Maurice Larkin

• ISBN13: 9780521419161
• ISBN10: 0521419166
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-03-31
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book investigates the problems that committed Catholics allegedly faced if they sought careers in state employment under the Third French Republic. Using ministerial and Masonic archives, the book explores the broad divergence of practice between individual ministries and between particular governments. It also examines the factors that underlay these discriminatory attitudes - notably the claims of Catholic involvement in the right-wing subversive activities of the late 1890s at the time of the Dreyfus affair. It investigates the increased difficulties that French Catholics faced after the change of pope in 1903. Later chapters explore the degree to which wariness towards committed Catholics in the public services evaporated under later regimes - despite the traumas of the Vichy years.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part I. As It Was: Catholic and the Republic 1890-1914: 1. Rallié

s et dé

railleurs: Catholics and subversion

2. Le sabre et le goupillon: Catholics and the army

3. Raison d'é

tat, raison d'é

glise: the Roman dimension

Part II. As It Was: Catholics and State Employment: 4. Problems and principles

5. Patterns of preferment

6. Ronds-de-cuir, genoux de chameau: other sectors

7. The Brotherhood at work

8. Marianne at school

Part III. As It Became: 1914-1994: 9. La grande illusion? 1914-1939

10. The leopard's spots, 1940-1960

11. Croquet through the looking glass: rules and identity in question, 1960-1994

Notes

Sources.