Dear friends of freedom of conscience,

Our society is at a critical turning point with regard to spirituality, the treatment of minorities, and personal liberty. The speeches of Nicolas Sarkozy at Saint-Jean de Latran on the 20th of December 2007 and at Riyad on the 14th of January 2008, proposed an open secularity. Minister of the Interior, Michèle Alliot-Marie, immediately thereafter called for respect toward "all spiritualities." [1] These declarations raised as many hopeful as negative reactions in the various sectors of French society.

Mrs Alliot-Marie explicitly indicated that she sought a redefinition of the anti-cult war in France. She mentioned that the role of MIVILUDES could change: "It is not the role of MIVILUDES to define policy, nor to lead out in repressive actions. Those are responsibilities of the public authorities. It is my duty to guarantee freedom of belief for all." She further stated that one must "prosecute and suppress behaviours characterized by the disturbance of public order or by proven criminal infractions" rather than "hang onto an arbitrary, a-priori, stigmatizing vision' of religious movements, based on "less than rigorous" criteria.[2]

Catherine Picard, president of UNADFI, reacted angrily: "This reform is the result of ten years of sectarian lobbying and pressure by the United States, where every year the Congress nails the French policy toward cults in a report." She is preparing for a confrontation, vowing a powerful "mobilization" in the weeks to come.

It therefore seems important that we openly manifest our support for the reforms that are in preparation. This is a moment we want to seize. It represents an opportunity, in a vast coherent movement, to restore our personal liberties that have been scorned for twenty-five years by a hateful anti-cult campaign that has harmed thousands of innocent persons.

We recently received a confirmation that the many letters which we have been sending for two weeks to the government are taken into consideration.

We therefore invite you to show your support with a simple click to send a letter which we have prepared below. You may always modify the text or send another letter via the post. Whatever you chose to do, we hope that we will be many to speak out, whatever our political opinions, in support of this policy to favor spiritual liberty. We hope you will assert your desire that spirituality in all its forms and expressions should find its due place within our so-called democratic society.

With cordiality toward all,

The Team at CICNS

[1] http://www.cicns.net/communiques_presse_140_sarkozy_spiritualites_latran.htm
[2] http://www.lemonde.fr/

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