French pastors will not be labelled as “lobbyists”
A controversial amendment to the ‘Loi Sapin II’ was withdrawn this week. “Some ideological groups attempt to reduce the voice of religions in the public space”, explains evangelical representative.
PARIS · 29 SEPTEMBER 2016 · 17:38 CET
Evangelical ministers and leaders of other religious will not be labelled as “lobbyists” in France. A controversial amendment to the law known as “Loi Sapin II” was withdrawn this week.
The section 1 of the bill “contains provisions for the creation of a national electronic register of representatives of interests in order to supervise their practices”, the official website of the French government explains.
The amendment number 488 would have included religious ministers in this register.
ATTEMPTS TO EXCLUDE FAITH FROM PUBLIC SPACE
“This law would have developed into a distrust regarding pastors, who would have been gradually classified and registered in national files as political influencers”.
In France, where secularism has been strong for decades, the proposed amendment was a “part of the regular attempts by some political and ideological groups that aim to reduce the influence and the voice of religions in the public space”, Le Gall concluded.
Published in: Evangelical Focus - europe - French pastors will not be labelled as “lobbyists”