An anticlerical association is demanding that a historic image of Our Lady be removed from the public square in the French town of La Flotte-en-Ré
Newsroom (February 8, 2022, 2:45 PM, Gaudium Press) The image of Our Lady, which is located at the entrance of the small town of La Flotte-en-Ré in western France is in danger of being removed.
The French anticlerical association “Libre Pensée” (Free Thought) is demanding that the image of Our Lady be removed from the public square because it hurts the law of secularism.
In fact, since May 2020 the image has been the object of a real arm-wrestling match between the municipality and the Libre Pensée association.
The controversy began when the image was damaged in a car accident. At the time, the municipality decided to restore it and put it back in the same place.
However, the anticlerical association questioned the decision and asked that the image be removed because it offends the secularity of public places.
Based on the law of 1905, which prohibits the installation of religious objects in public spaces, “Libre Pensée” appealed to the administrative court of the region to have the image removed.
The mayor of the locality, Jean-Paul Héraudeau, considers the request undue, because according to him “if the accident had not happened, there would not have been the debate and not even the request (for removal)”.
The inhabitants are also against the removal of the image because they consider it to be part of the history and identity of the city.
Built after the Second World War, the statue was erected to give thanks for the graces received and the return of several prisoners of war.
“It would be stupid to remove it, I always saw it there. I was in the West Indies for 35 years, now I’m back and I’m happy to be able to see it again. I find it misplaced,” explained Michel, one of the inhabitants.
On March 3, the decision of the regional administrative court of Poitiers will be known. (FM)
Compiled by Zephania Gangl
