Freemasonry urged by Macron to uphold secularism, confronting the "danger of identity-based interpretation"
Emmanuel Macron Tasks Freemasons as Secularism's Guardians Amid Identity Politics Debate
In the lead-up to the 120th anniversary of the 1905 law on the separation of Churches and State, French President Emmanuel Macron has called upon the Freemasons, on May 5, 2025, to be secularism's "sentinels." During a speech before the Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of France at the Grande Loge de France, the president implored these groups to serve as "ambassadors" of secularism and emphasize its mission as a "law of liberty."
Macron also addressed end-of-life issues, ahead of the National Assembly's consideration of a bill on the right to assisted dying. "The debate cannot be boiled down to the question of whether one is pro-life or anti-life, or whether on one side there would be a humanism worthy of support and on the other abandonment to death simply," he remarked.
A "natural daughter of the Republic"
The president's speech follows growing concerns over the handling of secularism issues by the Ministry of the Interior, led by the right-wing Minister Bruno Retailleau, who is running for the presidency of the Republicans (LR). Retailleau has advocated extending provisions of the 2004 law on the prohibition of religious signs to school trip escorts and sporting competitions.
The Grande Loge de France visit marks the first time a French president has addressed this specific Masonic lodge. With approximately 32,000 members, the Grand Lodge of France is the second-largest Masonic obedience in France, trailing the Grand Orient of France with 55,000 members.
The republican separation of Churches and State saw promulgation on December 9, 1905, following heated debates. The law guarantees freedom of conscience and the free exercise of religions, as well as the state's neutrality regarding all religions. In anticipation of the 120th anniversary, the Grand Orient of France is advocating for the constitutionalization of these principles. Currently, France's constitution states, "France is an indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic."
Masonic movements and the 1905 law
The Freemasons, particularly the Grand Orient de France, are pushing to have the first two articles of the 1905 law constitutionally recognized, seeking to preserve these principles from political and legal erosion. Their April 2025 petition, with over 11,000 signatures, aims to protect the core principles of freedom of conscience and state neutrality.
While the Grand Lodge de France primarily focuses on spiritual aspects, the Grand Orient is known for its social activism. Both groups share a dedication to reinforcing the legal foundations of secularism amid perceived cultural and political challenges. Macron, as well as the Freemasons, view the 1905 law as integral to French Republican values, but their approaches differ: Macron focuses on symbolic reinforcement, while Masonic groups advocate for institutional safeguards. [1][3]
References:
[1] Enrichment Data - Secularism in France: Macron's Speech, Freemasons' Support, and the 1905 Law's Legacy (April 2025).
[3] Enrichment Data - Freemasons Push for Constitutionalization of 1905 Law Ahead of Anniversary (April 2025).
- The Freemasons, specifically the Grand Orient de France, are aiming to have the first two articles of the 1905 law constitutionally recognized, a move intended to secure their preservation from potential political and legal dissolution in the face of cultural and political challenges.
- During a speech to the Grand Lodge de France, President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of the Freemasons serving as ambassadors of secularism, upholding it as a grand policy-and-legislation principle that guarantees freedom of conscience and the state's neutrality towards all religions.
- With the 120th anniversary of the 1905 law on the separation of Churches and State approaching, the Grande Loge de France, France's second-largest Masonic obedience, has expressed concern over the management of secularism issues by the Ministry of the Interior, particularly its right-wing leader, Bruno Retailleau, who seeks to extend religious sign restrictions to school trips and sporting competitions.
- In the midst of identity politics debates, French President Emmanuel Macron has tasked the Freemasons as secularism's guardians, labeling them as a "natural daughter of the Republic," while the Grand Orient de France is advocating for the constitutionalization of the principles outlined in the 1905 law to strengthen the legal foundations of secularism.
