The issue gained national attention following a parliamentary hearing of Guillaume Prévost, Secretary General of Catholic Education, held on December 2.
Prévost presented feedback collected from school heads and teachers.
On December 8, the Secretariat General of Catholic Education published a 14-page document summarizing incidents. They include:
Intrusive questioning
Inspectors asked young students and staff intrusive questions about their religious beliefs and practices, including about attendance at mass and private spiritual life.
Searches and documentation
Inspectors searched pupils’ belongings, such as schoolbags, and examined or photographed private materials, including spiritual journals or documents.
Questioning of very young pupils
Children were questioned without the presence of a neutral adult.
Undermining the Catholic identity
Certain inspection practices sought to neutralise the Catholic identity of schools. Inspectors expressed suspicion toward religious expression.
Furthermore, inspectors requested to remove religious signs.
The compiled testimonies described the inspections as arbitrary, anxiety-inducing, and overbearing. Catholic leaders said the methods had a deeply negative impact on school personnel and added stress.
The issue received wide coverage across French media outlets, including radio, national newspapers, religious publications, and press agencies.
In response, the Ministry of Education acknowledged the publication of the report. It "had taken note" of the allegations.
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