Jonah Patel
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in July 1790, was a law that attempted to nationalise and regulate the Catholic Church in France. It required bishops and priests to swear an oath of loyalty to the nation and the king, causing a schism within the Church. Those who refused to take the oath were expelled from their positions, while those who complied were condemned by Pope Pius VI, who claimed that the Revolution was making war on the Catholic Church. This division between juring and nonjuring clergy was one of the first major points of conflict in the French Revolution, forcing clerics and devout Catholics to choose between their faith and the Revolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Oath | 20 June 1789 |
| Name of the Oath | Tennis Court Oath |
| Who took the Oath | Members of the Third Estate |
| What it signified | French citizens' formal opposition to Louis XVI |
| What it entailed | Writing a new constitution |
| What it led to | The outbreak of the French Revolution |
| Law passed | Civil Constitution of the Clergy |
| Date of passing | 12 July 1790 |
| What it entailed | Complete control of the Catholic Church in France by the French government |
| What it caused | A schism within the French Church |
| Who took the oath | Clergy |
| What it entailed | Declaring support for the nation's constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Tennis Court Oath
On June 20, 1789, the members of the Third Estate swore the Tennis Court Oath, agreeing to work together to write a new constitution for France. This event is considered a seminal moment of the French Revolution, as it signified the first time that French citizens formally stood in opposition to King Louis XVI.
The National Assembly's refusal to back down forced the king to make concessions. The majority of the representatives of the clergy joined the Assembly in the Church of Saint Louis two days later, and the nobles who had refrained from participating also joined at the king's request. The Estates-General ceased to exist, becoming the National Assembly.
The French Revolution aimed to dismember the old regime and replace it with a society based on social equality. The Tennis Court Oath was a crucial step in this process, as it marked the beginning of the National Assembly's efforts to draft a constitution that would enshrine these principles. It also led to the reorganization of the church and the creation of a national religion.
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Clergy's oath of loyalty
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution. It was an attempt to modernise the Church and realign it with revolutionary values, as well as to create a national religion. The law proved highly divisive, turning many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy contained a clause that required the clergy to take an oath of loyalty to the nation's constitution and, by extension, to the reorganisation of the church. The oath was controversial because it required priests to declare whether they believed the French state or the Pope held supreme authority in ecclesiastical matters. Many priests felt they could not put their loyalty towards France before their loyalty towards God.
The National Constituent Assembly ordered the clergy to take the oath, declaring their support of the nation's constitution. This put priests in a difficult position, as they had to choose between accepting the Civil Constitution or losing their parishes. By November 1790, the Assembly made it compulsory for all members of the clergy, down to the lowest parish priests, to swear the oath. However, many were hesitant to do so, preferring to wait for the Pope's reaction.
By early 1791, 60% of parish priests had taken the oath, known as "'juring' priests", while those who refused were called "'non-juring' priests". The non-jurors were especially prevalent in the countryside, in regions such as Flanders, Brittany, and the Vendée. The Civil Constitution was one of the first major points of division in the French Revolution, forcing clerics and devout Catholics to choose between their faith and the Revolution.
In March 1791, Pope Pius VI publicly condemned the Constitution and the French Revolution, claiming that the Revolution was making war on the Catholic Church and that King Louis XVI had only sanctioned the Constitution under duress. This response alarmed many French clerics who had taken the oath, and they tried to retract it. The Pope's condemnation completed the schism, dividing the church into "juring" and "nonjuring" clergy.
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Clergy's refusal to take the oath
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in July 1790 during the French Revolution, was an attempt to reorganise the Catholic Church in France and bring it under the control of the French government. It caused a schism within the French Church, resulting in an illegal underground church loyal to the Papacy, and a "constitutional church" subservient to the state.
The Constitution included a controversial clause that required all clergy to take an oath of loyalty to the nation, and by extension, to the reorganisation of the church. This put priests in a difficult position, as they had to choose between their loyalty to the church and the Pope, and their loyalty to the state. Many priests believed they could not put the state before God, and so refused to take the oath.
The oath was initially taken by around 60% of parish priests, who became known as "juring priests". However, many were hesitant, and waited to hear the Pope's reaction before committing. In March 1791, Pope Pius VI publicly condemned the oath, stating that it was against the beliefs of the Church. He divided the church into "juring" and "non-juring" clergy, with those who took the oath being ""absolutely separated from the church". This caused further division within the church, with those who believed the Revolution was destroying their faith siding with the "non-jurors".
The refusal of the clergy to take the oath had significant consequences. It was seen as a rejection of the Constitution and the legitimacy of the French government, and led to further opposition and dissent. The non-juring priests were removed from their posts and the government took harsh measures against them, considering them enemies of the state. However, in some areas, particularly in western France, they were supported by the people.
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Pope Pius VI's condemnation
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution. It attempted to bring the Catholic Church in France under the control of the French government. The law was highly controversial, causing a schism within the French Church and turning many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy required bishops and all clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the state. This was problematic for many priests as they believed they could not put their loyalty towards France before their loyalty towards God and the Pope. The oath was also an indirect declaration of support for the reorganization of the church, which included the election of bishops and priests by the people, whether Catholic or not. This was an attempt to abolish the Pope's authority to appoint clergy in France.
Pope Pius VI initially remained silent on the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. However, in March 1791, he publicly condemned the Constitution and the French Revolution in general. He claimed that the Revolution was making war on the Catholic Church and that King Louis XVI had only signed the Constitution under duress. Pius also declared that constitutional bishops and priests would be suspended from office unless they renounced the oath.
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Impact on the Catholic Church
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, was a law that sought to bring the Catholic Church under the control of the French state. It required all clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the nation, which proved highly controversial. The Pope, Pius VI, condemned the Constitution and the French Revolution in general, creating a schism within the French Church. This schism resulted in an illegal underground French Catholic Church loyal to the Papacy, and a "'constitutional church' subservient to the state.
The oath, which was made compulsory for all clergy in November 1790, was an attempt to realign the Church with the revolutionary values of the time. It required priests and bishops to declare their support for the nation's constitution and the reorganisation of the church. This put them in a difficult position, as they had to choose between their loyalty to the Pope and the Church, and their loyalty to the state. This dilemma caused a split in the Church, with "'juring'" priests taking the oath and "'non-juring'" priests refusing.
The impact of the oath on the Catholic Church was significant. It caused a division between those who supported the revolutionary values and those who remained loyal to the traditional Church hierarchy. The "non-juring" priests, also known as "refractory priests", were particularly prevalent in rural areas and regions such as Flanders, Brittany, and the Vendée. They were supported by many parishioners, who objected to the state's interference in spiritual matters. However, the revolutionary governments took harsh measures against these priests, considering them enemies of the state.
The "juring" priests, on the other hand, became known as "constitutional priests" or "constitutional clergy". They were seen as supporting the revolutionary regime and the creation of a national religion. This alignment with the state caused resentment and hostility towards them from those who opposed the Revolution. The schism within the Church lasted for over a decade and intensified the anti-religious sentiment of the time.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy also had long-term impacts on the Catholic Church in France. It reduced the number of bishops, redrew dioceses to align with state administrative divisions, and made the clergy paid employees of the government. These changes brought the Church firmly under the authority of the state, a trend that was confirmed with the addition of the 'Organic Articles' to the Concordat in 1802. The nationalisation of Church property and the requirement for clergy to swear an oath of loyalty set a precedent for the ongoing negotiation of the sensitive relationship between church, state, and religious belief.
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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 nationalise and regulate the Catholic Church in France by the French government.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy required clergy to take an oath declaring their support for the nation's constitution and the reorganisation of the church. This included swearing "loyalty to the nation, the law and the king" and "to support [...] the constitution".
The oath was controversial and divisive. Clergy had to choose between their loyalty to the church and the state. Those who took the oath were known as "'juring' clergy", and those who refused were known as "'nonjuring' clergy". Pope Pius VI condemned the oath and the revolution, creating a schism within the church.
