France began loosening its tight national lockdown against the coronavirus this week but left several issues unresolved, including when religions can resume holding public services under new health restrictions.
After Catholic leaders protested about not being allowed to reopen churches until 2 July, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said they might be able to resume just before Pentecost on 31 May. All religions have suspended public worship since mid-March.
Philippe cited “important holidays and other events on the religious calendar” for the possible change. But his hint of flexibility prompted an outcry from Muslims, who asked why Christians got concessions but not Muslims, whose most important feast of the year, Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, falls only a week earlier.
Resuming public services depends on how France fares with the first lockdown loosening from yesterday May. If infections spike, Paris might decide at short notice to push back the second loosening wave that includes religious activity.
The country will also be divided into two, with most regions coloured green on the map to show loosening can proceed there, but the northeast, including Paris, coloured red to indicate that tighter conditions will prevail.
The debate on loosening restrictions showed the Catholic Church was the most insistent, including arguing it needed the Pentecost service to baptise or receive catechumens who could not become Catholics at the suspended Easter Vigil. Other Christians posed fewer demands.
Church leaders said they discussed their Pentecost reopening request with the tiny Jewish community, for whom the feast of Shavuot celebrating the revelation of the Torah falls the same weekend. But the more numerous Muslims appear to have been overlooked.
The lockdown has increased Church-State tensions, with police and local officials sometimes enforcing restrictions with a heavy hand and some clerics loudly complaining of persecution and violations of religious freedom.
The dispute has also opened divisions within the Islamic community, with the Muslim Council ready to accept the government's decision but the Grand Mosque of Paris threatening a legal suit for discrimination.
Catholic parishes around France seem unsure when they can resume regular services and bishops have given various and sometimes confusing guidelines. All agree on the need for health precautions including social distancing, a contactless sign of peace and no Communion on the tongue.
Some bishops have urged parishes to reopen quickly, a few have encouraged home Masses in the meantime, but most have advised caution.
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