Anti-clericalism

Anti-clericalism played a significant role in shaping the social and political landscape during the French Revolution. The discontent towards the Catholic Church (which had long held a privileged position in French society) was rooted in various factors, including the Church's vast wealth and its exemption from many taxes. Many revolutionaries perceived this as unjust, particularly when the country's finances were in dire straits.

The National Constituent Assembly initiated measures aimed at reducing the influence and wealth of the Catholic Church. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, enacted on 12 July 1790, sought to reorganize the Church within France. It mandated that priests and bishops be elected by the populace (as civil servants) and required an oath of loyalty to the state. This caused a rift within the clergy; those who refused to take the oath (known as refractory priests) faced persecution, while those who complied were often viewed with suspicion by the devout.

Confiscation of Church property became a means to alleviate the nation's financial woes. On 2 November 1789, the Assembly declared Church properties to be at the disposal of the nation. The subsequent sale of these properties (known as biens nationaux) provided much-needed funds for the revolutionary government but also contributed to the erosion of the Church's societal influence.

Anti-clerical sentiment further intensified during the Reign of Terror (1793–1794) under the radical Jacobins. The dechristianization campaign aimed to eliminate the Catholic Church's influence entirely. Churches were closed or repurposed, religious symbols and artifacts were destroyed, and clergymen were persecuted. The introduction of the Cult of Reason and later the Cult of the Supreme Being exemplified the revolutionaries' attempts to replace Christian worship with secular alternatives.

Despite these efforts, anti-clericalism met with resistance from many devout Catholics, resulting in conflicts such as the War in the Vendée. These internal conflicts underscored the deep division between revolutionary ideals and traditional religious practices. Nonetheless, anti-clericalism remained a cornerstone of revolutionary policy, reflecting broader Enlightenment ideals that challenged traditional authority and sought to establish a secular society.

• Anti-clericalism surged during the French Revolution as revolutionaries sought to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church in public life; this was partly due to the Church's close ties with the monarchy.
• The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, enacted in 1790, required clergy to swear allegiance to the state rather than the pope; this led to a significant split within the Church and fueled tensions throughout the revolution.
• Notably, many priests who refused to take the oath were persecuted; some faced imprisonment, while others were forced to flee or go underground, contributing to the civil unrest.
• The slogan "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, equality, fraternity) became a rallying cry for the secular revolutionaries, symbolizing their quest for freedom from clerical authority.
• Anti-clerical sentiment in France can be traced back to the Enlightenment; philosophers like Voltaire openly criticized the Church's power and influence, laying intellectual groundwork for revolutionary ideas.