How was the French Revolution hostile to the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

Revolutionary France was Atheistic and waged a program of dechristianisation against Catholicism including:
+ The deportation of clergy and the condemnation of many of them to death
+ The closing of churches
+ The institution of revolutionary and civic cults, including the Cult of Reason and subsequently the Cult of the Supreme Being
+ The large scale destruction of religious monuments
+ The outlawing of public and private worship and religious education
+ Forced marriages of the clergy
+ Forced abjurement of priesthood
+ The enactment of a law on October 21, 1793 making all suspected priests and all persons who harbored them liable to death on sight

http://books.google.com/books?id=VjXHmc6Z5ZcC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=dechristianisation+of+france+during+the+french+revolution&source=web&ots=8NNRjFA4Fr&sig=CpEiqD7wOPrORg7aWTcHX4CnL7w#PPP1,M1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dechristianisation_of_France_during_the_French_Revolution

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

It was all because of French culture.

The upper-class and clergy, before the revolution, controlled more than 2/3 of the nations land and money. Those two groups were less than 20% of the population, so they created great animosity in the populace.

The RCC had kept the people crushed and poor by their usual tactics, so the people were more than happy to strip the church of powers as well.

Napoleon didn't like the threats to his power, so he did all he could, in addition to what had already been done by the revolutionaries. He shut down the Inquisition and demanded access to all of their records.

Answer 3

In a simple answer. Power. Remove the power of the Church which followed the Monarchy and what are you left with.

In modern France, there is no recognised teaching of Christianity included in their curriculum. They are not allowed to wear any sign of their religious beliefs, ie Crucific/crosses publically either.

Although the rites of the church are recognised independantly, it is not recognised by the Governent.

There is however a dichotomy that it is still a "Catholic" country.

Answer 4

in the usual fashion- by murdering any and every clergyman, nun and monk they could catch and by confiscating churches and other property.
Also by the elimination of all church holidays, including Sundays and changing the calendar. If you look up some events in revolutionnary France you can see the new month names- like Brumaire

Answer 5

Many priests had to escape or were executed. Celebrating Mass was practically forbidden