The Catholic Lawyer Volume 33 Number 4 Volume 33, Number 4 Article 3 Legal Status and Administrative Control of Religious Organizations and Groups in France Andrew D. West Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/tcl Part of the Catholic Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Catholic Lawyer by an authorized editor of St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. LEGAL STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS IN FRANCE ANDREW D. WEST* INTRODUCTION There is no unified legal structure prescribed for religious organiza- tions in France, largely because of historical factors. Since the separation of Church from State following the Revolution of 1789, the creation and operation of all types of religious organization has been subject to the prior authorization' and subsequent control of the administration. The level at which authorization must be obtained varies; thus, local congrega- tions, which are treated as associations created for the purpose of provid- ing or supporting the public exercise of a religion in the locality2 are regu- lated by the law of 9-11th December 1905,' and it is the local Prefecture which is the competent authority. The Prefecture is also competent in respect of religious associations created for purposes other than the hold- * Lecturer in Law, Cardiff Law School, University of Wales, United Kingdom; Solicitor; Visiting Professor, Universite De Nantes; LL.B., University of Southampton; D.E.S.U., AIX - Marseille III.