defending the french law of separation of religion and state international humanist news the th world humanist congress was held in paris in july on the theme of separation of religion and state commemorating the centenary of the french law which established such a separation the world congress passed an important declaration which has been published in the international humanist news of august the law establishes laicit or the institutional separation of church and state a defining characteristic of the french republic of seminal importance in the ongoing and permanent battle for the freedom of conscience laicit is under attack today roger lepeix writes of the dangers and of the spectacular efforts by french freethinkers to save a valuable institutional arrangement