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Article: Prim but punchy: France's Protestants.(the 400th anniversary of the edict of Nantes, giving freedom to the Huguenots, finds most of France still viewing Protestants as somewhat quaint and morally austere)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- April 18, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PARIS
"I'M A Catholic, not a Protestant, you know!" This was the retort of prickly Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the extreme-right National Front, when he was quizzed about the "errors" he might have made during one of his election campaigns. "I'm not used to the mental gymnastics of self-criticism!" he explained.
In France, Protestantism, in the public mind, is almost synonymous with austerity and moral rigour; something to be respected, but not always liked. The Catholic who goes to confession "comes to terms without difficulty with his little sins and white lies," says Jean-Marie Rouart, Le Figaro's literary editor, whereas "the Protestant brandishes ...