Malcolm Rivera
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution, that sought to exert complete control over the Catholic Church in France by the French government. The law caused a schism within the French Church, resulting in an illegal and underground French Catholic Church loyal to the Papacy, and a 'constitutional church that was subservient to the State'. The National Constituent Assembly ordered the clergy to take an oath declaring their support for the nation's constitution and the reorganization of the church. This caused a divide between nonjurors (refractory priests) and jurors (constitutional priests). The Civil Constitution was meant to modernize the Church and realign it with revolutionary values, but it proved highly divisive, turning many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date passed | 12 July 1790 |
| Purpose | To reorganise and regulate the Catholic Church in France, eliminate corruption and abuses in the church, and limit the church's political influence |
| Impact on Church-State relations | Made the Catholic Church subordinate to the French government, turning many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution |
| Impact on Church unity | Caused a schism within the French Church, resulting in an illegal and underground French Catholic Church loyal to the Papacy, and a "constitutional church" that was subservient to the State |
| Number of bishops | Reduced from 135 to 83 |
| Election of clergy | Bishops and priests were to be elected by the people, rather than appointed by the Church hierarchy or the Vatican |
| Salaries | Clergy were to be paid by the State, with salaries ranging from 1,200 to 6,000 livres per year for parish priests and around 12,000 livres per annum for bishops |
| Loyalty oath | Required all members of the clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the nation and the forthcoming constitution |
| Papal condemnation | Pope Pius VI publicly condemned the Constitution and the French Revolution in March 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The main features of the proposed Civil Constitution of the Clergy were to reduce the number of bishops from 135 to 83, to have each diocese correspond to a département, to have enfranchised citizens elect bishops and parish priests, and to have the state pay the clergy's wages. The constitution also regulated the current dioceses so that they could become more uniform and aligned with the administrative districts that had been recently created. It emphasised that officials of the Church could not give their loyalty to anyone outside the First French Republic, specifically the Papacy.
The Civil Constitution was meant to return the politicised institution of the Church to its original state, meaning the clergy would revert to being only spiritual guardians. It was also an attempt to settle the chaos caused by the earlier confiscation of Church lands and the abolition of tithes.
The Assembly passed the Civil Constitution on 12 July 1790, two days before the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. On 27 November 1790, the National Constituent Assembly ordered the clergy to take an oath declaring their support of the nation's constitution and thus, indirectly, of the reorganisation of the church. This resulted in a split between the nonjurors (refractory priests) and the jurors (constitutional priests).
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Bishops and priests elected
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, was a law that sought to exert complete control over the Catholic Church in France by the French government. The legislation was passed by the National Constituent Assembly, which had been working on reforms since 1789. The Civil Constitution reduced the number of bishops and archbishops and made them, along with priests, elected officials.
The law stated that bishops and priests would be elected by a local or regional assembly, rather than appointed by the Vatican or the Church hierarchy. This meant that members of the clergy became employees of the state, with their salaries paid by the government. The salaries of bishops were significantly reduced, while those of parish priests were increased in most cases.
The election of bishops and priests was a highly controversial aspect of the Civil Constitution, as it was seen as an attempt to exert control over the Church and limit the Pope's jurisdiction. The Constitution also required all clerics to swear oaths of loyalty to the state and the forthcoming constitution, which many refused to do. This resulted in a schism within the French Church, with some clerics becoming "nonjurors" or "refractory priests", who were considered enemies of the state.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy caused a serious conflict between the French Revolution and the Catholic Church, turning many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution. It was an attempt to modernise the Church and align it with revolutionary values, but it ultimately created a divide between those who supported the state and those who remained loyal to the Papacy.
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Church lands confiscated
The confiscation of Church lands was one of the most radical changes of the French Revolution, and it set the Church and the Revolution on a "collision course". The National Constituent Assembly abolished the Church's taxation privileges in September 1789, and two months later, in November, it nationalised all Church-owned lands. The property seized from the Church was deemed “biens nationaux”, or “national goods”, and the auctioning of this property began in late 1790. The revenue generated from the sale of Church lands was used to underwrite newly issued paper bonds called "assignats".
The confiscation of Church lands was part of a broader set of reforms aimed at transforming the Catholic Church in France into a de facto state church. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, sought to reorganise and standardise parish sizes based on geography and population. It also reduced the number of bishops and archbishops, made the clergy paid employees of the government, and required all members of the clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the nation.
The confiscation of Church lands and the subsequent reforms caused a schism within the French Church. An illegal and underground French Catholic Church remained loyal to the Papacy, while a “constitutional church” was subservient to the State. This schism was not fully resolved until 1801.
The confiscation of Church lands also had financial implications for the clergy. After the nationalisation of Church lands, the clergy no longer possessed landed properties and had to provide religious services gratuitously. Their salaries became fixed and paid for by the state, ranging from 1,200 to 6,000 livres per year for parish priests and around 12,000 livres per annum for bishops.
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Tithes abolished
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, was a law that sought to exert complete control over the Catholic Church in France by the French government. This law abolished tithes and confiscated church lands, which had been deemed biens nationaux or 'national goods'. The revenue generated from the sale of these lands was used to finance the government's newly issued paper bonds, known as assignats.
The abolition of tithes was part of a broader set of reforms aimed at reorganising and standardising the Catholic Church in France. The number of bishops was reduced, dioceses were realigned with administrative districts, and the election of bishops and priests was introduced. These changes sought to settle the chaos caused by the earlier confiscation of church lands and the abolition of tithes, which had disrupted the financial framework of the Church.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy had a significant impact on the relationship between the Church and the state. It emphasised that church officials could not give their loyalty to anyone outside the First French Republic, specifically the Papacy. This subordination of the Church to the state caused a schism within the French Church, resulting in an illegal underground Catholic Church loyal to the Papacy and a "constitutional church" subservient to the state.
The abolition of tithes and the subsequent reforms implemented by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy were highly controversial and divisive. They generated dissent and fuelled opposition, particularly from those who disagreed with the strict subordination of the Church to the state and the limitation of the Pope's jurisdiction to spiritual affairs. The conflict between the two rival churches, the Constitutional Church and the Refractory Church, continued to escalate, with the Revolutionary governments taking harsh measures against the non-juring clergy, who were considered enemies of the state.
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Clergy's wages
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in 1790 during the French Revolution, had a significant impact on the wages of the clergy. Before the Constitution, the clergy enjoyed various privileges, including tax exemptions and ownership of vast church lands. However, the Revolution brought about a shift in this dynamic.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy transformed the Catholic Church in France into a de facto state church, with the state now responsible for paying the clergy's wages. This represented a significant change, as it effectively made the clergy employees of the state. The salaries of parish priests were now fixed and paid by the state, ranging from 1,200 to 6,000 livres per year, depending on location and duties. For most parish priests, this meant an increase in their pre-1789 salaries.
On the other hand, the salaries of bishops were significantly reduced to around 12,000 livres per annum. This reduction was in line with the Constitution's aim to limit the church's political influence and power. Bishops were also required to reside permanently within their dioceses, eliminating the previous practice of absentee bishops who preferred to reside in more desirable locations.
The state's control over clerical salaries was part of a broader effort to standardize and regulate the Catholic Church in France. This included reducing the number of bishops and aligning dioceses with administrative districts. The Constitution sought to address the chaos caused by the earlier confiscation of church lands and the abolition of tithes, creating a more uniform and efficient system.
Overall, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy had a direct and significant impact on the wages of the clergy, reflecting the Revolution's goal of subordinating the church to the state and transforming it into a national religion.
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Frequently asked questions
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution. It attempted to reorganise the Catholic Church in France, making it subservient to the State.
The Civil Constitution was highly controversial and divisive, causing a schism within the French Church. It alienated thousands of devout Catholics and clerics, turning them against the Revolution. The Pope, Pius VI, also condemned the Civil Constitution in 1791, further exacerbating the conflict.
The Civil Constitution reduced the number of bishops, made the clergy paid employees of the State, and required all members of the clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the nation. It also emphasised that officials of the Church could not give their loyalty to anyone outside the First French Republic, specifically the Papacy.
The Civil Constitution created two rival Churches in France: the Constitutional Church, which was subservient to the State, and the Refractory Church, which remained loyal to the Papacy. This schism was not fully resolved until 1801.
