Editing French Revolution (section)

===Catholic Church ===
Historian [[John McManners]] argues "in eighteenth-century France, throne and altar were commonly spoken of as in close alliance; their simultaneous collapse ... would one day provide the final proof of their interdependence." One suggestion is that after a century of persecution, some [[Huguenots|French Protestants]] actively supported an anti-Catholic regime, a resentment fuelled by Enlightenment thinkers such as [[Voltaire]].{{Sfn|Censer|Hunt|2001|p=16}} [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], considered a philosophical founder of the revolution,{{Sfn|Garrard|2012|p=37}}{{Sfn|Ross|Holtermann|Bindreiter|2019|p=323}}{{Sfn|Lauritsen|Thorup|2011|p=100}} wrote it was "manifestly contrary to the [[natural law|law of nature]]... that a handful of people should gorge themselves with superfluities, while the hungry multitude goes in want of necessities."{{Sfn|Hunt|Martin|Rosenwein|2003|p=625}}

[[File:Decret de l'Assemblée National qui supprime les Ordres Religieux et Religieuses.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|In this caricature, monks and nuns enjoy their new freedom after the decree of 16 February 1790.]]

The Revolution caused a massive shift of power from the Catholic Church to the state; although the extent of religious belief has been questioned, elimination of tolerance for religious minorities meant by 1789 being French also meant being Catholic.{{Sfn|Betros|2010|pp=16–21}} The church was the largest individual landowner in France, controlling nearly 10% of all estates and levied [[tithe]]s, effectively a 10% tax on income, collected from peasant farmers in the form of crops. In return, it provided a minimal level of social support.{{Sfn|Censer|Hunt|2001|p=4}}

The August Decrees abolished tithes, and on 2 November the Assembly confiscated all church property, the value of which was used to back a new paper currency known as {{Lang|fr|[[assignats]]}}. In return, the state assumed responsibilities such as paying the clergy and caring for the poor, the sick and the orphaned.{{Sfn|McManners|1969|p=27}} On 13 February 1790, religious orders and [[monasteries]] were dissolved, while [[monk]]s and [[nun]]s were encouraged to return to private life.{{Sfn|Censer|Hunt|2001|p=92}}

The [[Civil Constitution of the Clergy]] of 12 July 1790 made them employees of the state, established rates of pay, and developed a system for electing priests and bishops. [[Pope Pius VI]] and many French Catholics objected to this since it denied the authority of the [[Pope]] over the French church. In October, 30 [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishops]] wrote a declaration denouncing the law, further fuelling opposition.{{Sfn|Shusterman|2013|pp=58–87}} When clergy were required to swear loyalty to the Civil Constitution in November, it split the church between the 24% who complied and the majority who refused.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1989|p=151}} This stiffened popular resistance against state interference, especially in traditionally Catholic areas such as [[Normandy]], [[Brittany (administrative region)|Brittany]] and the [[Vendée]], where only a few priests took the oath and the civilian population turned against the revolution.{{Sfn|Shusterman|2013|pp=58–87}} The result was state-led persecution of "[[refractory clergy]]", many of whom were forced into exile, deported, or executed.{{Sfn|Censer|Hunt|2001|p=61}}