Education — the Battle for Socialization

Chapter 1 explored the notion that Catholics do not always strictly adhere to church teaching, which results in conflict within the church itself. It also sought to demonstrate that conflict can arise between other sectors, such as church and state. The spheres of influence of church and state in society overlap, and therein lies the reason for conflict and opposition. Positive relations between church and state depend on solving these potential conflicts of interest. Changes in government, in papal succession, in historical events, and in society and culture all contribute to altering patterns of church and state relations. Education is another sphere in which a conflict of interest between church and state arises. How does the church use the traditional vehicle of education as a way of socializing young people into the church? One way to find an answer to this question is by examining three different time periods: the 1930s, France under Vichy followed by de Gaulle, and finally France under Mitterrand and onwards. How might we first determine whom, however, the church represents? Who are these people who call themselves Catholic? What, in fact, does it mean to be Catholic in France today? These questions might be answered by examining the background to changes being experienced by Catholics and by defining whether or not people can be regarded as being Catholic. All this must be situated in its correct historical setting — in a rapidly changing technological European world. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.