Abstract

The article aims at filling a gap in the historical studies by analysing how the Roman Catholic Church contributed to the implementation of the democratization processes in modern France. The electoral commitment of the Catholic clergy, mostly in favour of the conservative camp, deeply modified the status of the priests in the French society, notably in the rural areas. By turning in the confident and the electoral adviser of the faithful, the priests agreed to politicize their pastoral and largely contributed to the political integration of several rural regions of the country. The ultimate outcome of that process was one of politicization as inspired by and imbued with the religious perspective.