Simone Lawson
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution, which caused the immediate subordination of the Catholic Church in France to the French government. The law was highly controversial and divisive, turning many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution. It required clerics to swear an oath of loyalty to the state, which many refused to do, resulting in their removal from their parishes. The Pope also condemned the Civil Constitution, hardening opposition among the local clergy and causing a schism within the French Church. The schism was not fully resolved until 1801 under Napoleon's rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date passed | 12 July 1790 |
| Purpose | To reorganise the Catholic Church in France, bringing it under the control of the French government |
| Number of titles | 4 |
| Contents | Reduction in the number of bishops, alignment of dioceses with administrative districts, election of bishops and priests, payment of clergy by the state, living requirements for bishops and priests |
| Oaths | Required for all clergy, including bishops, to swear loyalty to the state and constitution |
| Opposition | Widespread opposition from the Catholic Church and Pope Pius VI, who condemned the constitution |
| Impact | Schism within the French Church, with some clerics refusing to take the oath and facing persecution |
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What You'll Learn
The loyalty oath
One of the most controversial aspects of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was the requirement that clergy take a loyalty oath to the French government. This oath, known as the "Oath of Civility", required priests and bishops to swear allegiance to the state and to uphold the Civil Constitution.
The Oath of Civility was seen by many as a way for the state to control the Church and to erode its independence. It was also viewed as a violation of canonical law, which prohibited clergy from taking oaths to civil authorities. This put the clergy in a difficult position, as they had to choose between their loyalty to the Church and their loyalty to the state.
Those who refused to take the oath, known as "refractory priests", were often persecuted, exiled, or even killed. Many refused to take the oath because they saw it as a violation of their religious principles and an infringement on the Church's independence.
On the other hand, some clergy members took the oath, becoming known as "constitutional priests." They believed that it was possible to reconcile their loyalty to the Church and their duty to the nation. However, they were often viewed with suspicion by both sides and were sometimes accused of being
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Clerical elections
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, was a highly controversial law that sought to bring the Catholic Church in France under the control of the French government. One of the most contentious aspects of this law was the requirement for all clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and, by extension, to the state. This was particularly controversial because it implied a shift in allegiance away from the Church and the Pope, and towards the nation and its constitution.
The oath was met with widespread opposition, with only seven bishops and about half of the lower clergy agreeing to take it. The rest, who became known as "non-jurors" or "refractory priests", refused to compromise their religious loyalties and were subjected to various punishments, including removal from their posts and, in some cases, public humiliation.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy also introduced a new system of clerical elections, which further contributed to the controversy surrounding the law. Here's a more detailed look at how these elections worked and why they were so divisive:
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy stipulated that bishops and priests would no longer be appointed by the Church hierarchy or the Vatican but would instead be elected by the people, just like any other public official. This meant that bishops and priests would be chosen by local or regional assemblies, with each diocese corresponding to a département, the basic administrative unit established by the National Assembly.
The electors in these clerical elections were not required to be Catholic, which was a significant departure from traditional practices. The elections were to be decided by an absolute majority of votes, with all elections conducted by ballot.
This new system of clerical elections was intended to bring the Church in line with the revolutionary values of the time, emphasising uniformity, simplification, and alignment with the state. However, it was met with strong opposition from those who believed that the Church should remain independent from secular influence.
The election of clergy by the people effectively made them employees of the state, as they would be paid salaries by the government rather than relying on tithes or other forms of religious funding. This further reinforced the subordination of the Church to the state, which was a significant point of contention for many devout Catholics and clerics.
The clerical elections, along with the oath of loyalty, represented a significant shift in the relationship between Church and state in France. They contributed to a schism within the French Church, with some clerics remaining loyal to the Pope and refusing to comply with the Civil Constitution, while others became known as "constitutional clergy" or "juring priests" by accepting the new terms. This division had lasting impacts on French society, with the schism only fully resolving in 1801 under Napoleon's rule.
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Diocesan reorganisation
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy included several provisions related to diocesan reorganisation:
Number of Dioceses and Bishops
The Constitution stipulated that each department, or basic administrative unit, would form a single diocese, with the same extent and limits. This reorganisation reduced the number of dioceses and bishops, with the number of bishops being limited to 83 to match the number of French departments.
Election of Bishops and Priests
The Constitution provided for the election of bishops and parish priests by the people, rather than their appointment by the Church hierarchy or the king. This was a significant change, as it meant that members of the clergy were now subject to the state, with their parishioners choosing their priests and bishops.
Residence Requirements for Bishops
Bishops were required to live permanently within their diocese, ending the practice of absentee bishops who preferred to reside in other locations.
Abolition of Monastic Orders
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy completed the destruction of the monastic orders, abolishing various titles, offices, and dignities associated with the Catholic Church. This included the abolition of abbacies, priorships, and chapters for both men and women.
Salaries for Clergy
The Constitution also addressed the salaries of clerics, who were now considered employees of the state and received their wages from the government. This represented a shift from the previous system, where the Church was reliant on tithes and revenue from church lands.
The reorganisation of dioceses under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was part of an attempt to modernise the Catholic Church in France and bring it into alignment with the revolutionary values of the time. However, it also contributed to the schism within the Church and the opposition faced by the law.
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Clerical salaries
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed in July 1790 during the French Revolution, which caused the immediate subordination of the Catholic Church in France to the French government. It was an attempt to modernise the Church and align it with the revolutionary values of the time. The law turned many Catholics and clerics against the Revolution, as they now had to choose between their faith and the Revolution.
The changes to clerical salaries were popular with the lower clergy, who before the revolution had been poorly or irregularly paid. However, the changes were opposed by the higher clergy, whose income and independence were drastically cut. The higher clergy also had to contend with the loss of their power to appoint bishops and parish priests, as these positions would now be elected by enfranchised citizens.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy caused a schism within the Church, creating dire problems for the new regime. It divided France and created a split between the “non-jurors” (refractory priests) and the “jurors” (constitutional priests). The "non-jurors" were those who refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the state and the forthcoming constitution, while the "jurors" were those who submitted and took the oath.
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Pope Pius VI's condemnation
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on July 12, 1790, during the French Revolution. It was an attempt to reorganise the Roman Catholic Church in France by placing it under the control of the French government. The law was extremely divisive and provoked widespread opposition, leading to a schism within the French Church.
Pope Pius VI strongly condemned the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in the spring of 1791. In his condemnation, Pope Pius VI criticised the National Assembly's encroachments on the Church, including the breach of the concordat, the confiscation of church property, and the suppression of religious orders. He also took issue with their definition of the "rights of man", claiming that it contradicted the teachings of the Church and was intended to destroy it. Pope Pius VI asserted that secular institutions had no right to make laws on spiritual matters.
In his condemnation, Pope Pius VI also addressed the issue of the oath of loyalty required by the Civil Constitution. He declared that those who took the oath were “absolutely separated from the church” and excommunicated them. This further deepened the divide within the French Church, as priests and bishops had to choose between accepting the Civil Constitution or remaining loyal to the Pope and risking removal from their parishes.
The Pope's public condemnation had a significant impact on the clergy in France. Many clerics who had previously equivocated now refused to take the oath, and some who had already taken it renounced it in accordance with the Pope's orders. As a result, the Catholic Church in France became divided between those who swore loyalty to the nation and those who remained loyal to Rome. The schism caused by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy persisted until 1801, when it was resolved under Napoleon's rule with the Concordat of 1801.
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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 was an attempt to reorganise the Catholic Church in France by making it subordinate to the French government.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was controversial because it required clerics to swear an oath of loyalty to the State, which many saw as conflicting with their duties to the Pope or to God. It also reduced the number of bishops, made clerics elected officials, and turned them into salaried employees of the State. These changes were seen as a radical departure from existing customs and traditions of the Church.
Pope Pius VI condemned the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and called on all clergy to renounce their oaths. He wrote to King Louis XVI asking him not to sanction it, claiming that he had only signed it under duress.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy caused a schism within the French Church, with some clerics accepting the new order and becoming "'juring priests' or 'constitutional clergy', while others refused to take the oath and became known as "non-jurors" or "refractory priests". This division in the Church hardened opposition to the Revolution among devout Catholics and stoked resentment towards the central government.
