freedom of conscience

***Lyons, April 28, 2000

Claude is a Protestant. The freedoms of his Evangelical Association are being more and more restricted due to the growing climate of fear of “cults” that is spreading in France today and affecting many religions groups.

I represent the CLEF Association [Lyons Evangelization and Training Circle], which is affiliated with the French Evangelical Alliance. This Alliance is part of the Protestant Federation. There are about 5,000 of us in and around Lyons.******As members of a Protestant Evangelical Church in Lyons, we are being gradually subjected to greater and greater restrictions on our freedom of speech. In 1982, we were founding members of a radio station in Villeurbanne. The board of directors started telling us: “You must not speak only about Protestants.” Later we were told: “Don’t talk about God too much.” And then, “Stop talking about sin.” … Last year, we were told to: “Only play music.”******So we played Gospel. Alas! Not ail Lyons people understand English! I was happy to translate the words of the songs, which spoke of Jesus and of the forgiveness of ail our sins. Then we were wamed not to talk about Jesus and sin again. In 1997, we were kicked off the radio and not allowed to broadcast anymore.******Every year on December 8 and June 21, we have a Gospel event on the Jacobins Square in Lyons. In earlier years, the Department of Events of the town would write or call to ask us what we needed and even offer their help if we were a Little late starting preparations. But for the fast three years, we’ve been having all sorts of problems: One day we have no electricity. Another time ifs something else. Things are closing in on us.******In 1994, we had a march for Jesus, a joyous march that was a cornbination of a demonstration and a religious procession. We had prepared the itinerary of this event with the Police Department. Ten days before the march, the Town Hall in Lyons refused to let us do this event because they were afraid of “cuits.” When we asked them why, they answered, “If we agreed to let you do this, we would have to agree to let others march too….” What they did not realize was that this event was talcing place an over the world, in London, Berlin, and in France in Paris, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lyons, and Marseilles. I simply faxed this list to the Town hall in Lyons, telling them : “It is very simple. We are going to alert Amnesty International.” They immediately cailed back to say, “You didn’t understand, it was a question of the itinerary! No problem, you can organize your march.”

As a Protestant, I would like to remind anyone reading this that 400 years ago, in 1598, Henri IV signed the Edict of Nantes which promised every French citizen freedom of religion and of speech. This Edict was revoked under Louis XIV, provoking a repression of Protestants. Today the word “cuit” is used to justify intolerance. I would like everybody in France to have freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to think differently.