French, catholic and proud: gay marriage battle fuels new youth revolution [Le Nouvel Observateur]

French, catholic and proud: gay marriage battle fuels new youth revolution


PARIS - Everyone thought they had disappeared, and they had indeed become invisible to most of us. But for the past six months, they have been resurfacing and taking to the streets relentlessly to protest against gay marriage.

They use their networks to organize events and rallies, as well as candlelit sit-ins and vigils. As defenders of the so-called traditional family, they represent a large proportion of those who march against same-sex marriage.

“It is a real groundswell,” says Christine Pedotti, editor-in-chief at Témoignage chrétien (“Christian Testimony”), the only Catholic magazine to favor gay marriage. “These young conservative activists obey the Church hierarchy and are addicted to family values and genuflecting. This is the new face of the Church.”

This new generation of Catholics – the John Paul II and Benedict XVI generation – became the unexpected sentinel of the Church in the battle against gay marriage, which started on August 15 with a “Prayer for France.”

Ultimately, despite a continuing series of protests, France last month became the latest country to approve same-sex marriage and adoption.

Nonetheless these young militants have vowed to continue their battle -- proud and riding high on their newfound activism, miles away from their elders’ modest discretion.

“Today, everyone asserts their identity, why shouldn't we?” asks Maxence, who speaks to us with her friends Solène, Marine, Eléonore, Bertrand and Michel, all aged between 18 and 19.


Read the rest here:
http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-...s-sarkozy-gay-marriage/c3s11793/#.UuL57ctHaSM

Original article (in French):
http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/l-en...e-dans-la-galaxie-catho-reac-decomplexee.html