Carla Bruni, Lapsed Catholic: French First Lady Criticizes Benedict XVI

France's First Lady has become exasperated with the leaders of the Catholic Church — so exasperated, in fact, that her Catholic faith has become lapsed. An organization’s leaders are not the same as that organization's ideology — errors made by the former do not necessarily undermine the validity of the latter — but in the real world, massive moral failings among leaders usually turn people away from a group or belief system. In this case, the moral failing is the intransigent opposition to condoms as a means for preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy said: "I was born Catholic, I was baptised, but in my life I feel profoundly secular.

"I find that the controversy coming from the Pope's message – albeit distorted by the media – is very damaging.

"In Africa it's often Church people who look after sick people. It's astonishing to see the difference between the theory and the reality.

"I think the Church should evolve on this issue. It presents the condom as a contraceptive which, incidentally, it forbids, although it is the only existing protection," she told Femme Actuelle, the women's magazine.

Source: Telegraph

Somehow, I doubt that Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is alone in these feelings, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, even in secular France, there has been some reluctance to state things like this so directly and publicly. What this would mean is that these statements might embolden more people and start more conversations about the moral culpability of the Catholic Church for various immoral policies and misdeeds.

As you might expect, though, there are people concerned about these statements:

The comments will cause Mr Sarkozy embarrassment in a country where, despite the separation of Church and State, a majority of the population was born Catholic.

André Roux, a constitutional historian said: "It's unprecedented for a first lady to criticise the Pope. Charles de Gaulle's wife was very Catholic and would never had taken up position, remaining very discreet. The same was true of Bernadette Chirac, who never gave her opinion on religion or international affairs.

"Even Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of François Mitterrand who was not a believer and aired her political views, never attacked the Pope.

"In my view, there is a certain obligation to keep counsel when one is the wife of a head of state, such comments are not opportune. Given her public position the effects of her comments risk carrying more weight than just the personal views of Carla Bruni."

What I find interesting about these criticisms is that no one is quoted as actually being offended or upset that Carla Bruni-Sarkozy said something negative about Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican hierarchy/policies. A couple of people are quoted as saying that such comments are "unprecedented" and perhaps "inappropriate," but that's hardly a very serious criticism, is it?

The Catholic Church has tremendous influence and authority in people's lives; it has less influence and power in French society because of the aggressive secularism that has taken root there, but it still has plenty of such power elsewhere. Those with high public profiles and significant influence are in a good position to offer criticism and comment on the Catholic Church.

It seems to me that "concern" over public figures daring to speak out may, at least at times, mask a desire that such criticism either not exist at all or, if it happens, only come from unknown people who can more easily be ignored and dismissed. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy cannot be ignored and cannot be dismissed. She offers a fairly straightforward moral critique of the Catholic Church which demands attention and response, so will thus create conversations which need to happen. People should be happy and thankful that she's willing to start those conversations.

It's a pity that we don't have more such people in America.