What is it about?
For a group of French Catholic intellectuals, the economic and political crisis of the 1930s appeared as a crisis of civilisation. This chapter shows how their understanding of events formed the basis for a new humanist concept of engagement, which differed sharply from traditional notions of political action.
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Why is it important?
During this period, French Catholics were groping for a new relationship with the world, outside traditional conservative movements, and attempting to found their socio-political involvement in new forms of citizenship. From the point of view of politicians of the time, it has appeared that Catholics were volatile and ambiguous in their affiliations. However, Catholic intellectuals were seeking to articulate underlying norms and values in secular terms. The results formed the basis of a humanistic conception of engagement, which has continued to be influential.
Perspectives
I returned to this group of intellectuals after a period studying other things. I was struck by how their understanding of engagement resonated with the current concerns of many people today. In particular, they tried to find ways of expressing their values without being tied to the detailed programme or policies of specific political parties or groups.
Michael Howard Kelly
University of Southampton
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This page is a summary of: “Catholicisme ondoyant”:, December 2014, Fordham University Press,
DOI: 10.5422/fordham/9780823262373.003.0002.
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