Freemasonry in France has been influential on the worldwide Masonic movement due to its founding of Continental Freemasonry.

There are many and varied Masonic rites and obediences in France - the main masonic organisation is the Grand Orient de France although other organisations exist such as the Felicitaries and the Grande Loge Nationale Française.

History

Obediences

Critiques and scandals

In the 18th century, the Pope banned Freemasonry, for reasons linked to the situation in Tuscany that were more political than religious The relevant bull, Eminenti Apostolatus Specula was not however registered by the parliament of Paris and was never enacted in France. At the end of the 19th century, in the struggle between the French Republic and the Catholic Church, Freemasonry and its then-powerful networks definitively backed the state, leading to the Affaire Des Fiches, and even came to be called "the church of the Republic".

References

Bibliography

Works used in this article

• Dachez, Roger (2003). Histoire de la franc-maçonnerie française. PUF.
• ; Jacques Mitterrand, Serge Hutin and Alain Guichard (1992). article « Franc-maçonnerie ». Encyclopédie Universalis.
• Naudon, Paul (1981). Histoire générale de la franc-maçonnerie. PUF.
• (1997). Franc-maçonnerie, avenir d'une tradition. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours.
• ; Daniel Ligou et al. (2000). Histoire des Francs-Maçons en France. private publisher.
• ; D. Ligou et al. (2000). Histoire des Francs-Maçons en France. private publisher.
• Garibal, Gilbert (1994). Être franc-maçon aujourd'hui. Marabout.
• "Les francs-maçons". Historia 48
• "Les francs-maçons". L'Histoire 256

Documentaries

• "Grand Orient les frères invisibles" - script by Alain Moreau, directed by Patrick Cabouat, produced by France 5 / Program 33.

Other authorities in this area

• Pierre Chevallier, Histoire de la franc-maçonnerie française, 3 volumes, Fayard, 1974.