Editing Cultural Office of Cluny

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name = Cultural Office of Cluny
| image =
| imagewidth =
| caption =
| main_classification = [[Roman Catholic]]
| orientation =
| polity =
| founder = Olivier Fenoy
| founded_date = 1963
| founded_place = [[France]] and other countries
| from =
| branched_from =
| merger =
| separations =
| associations =
| area = [[France]]
| temples =
| members =
| ministers =
| website = [http://www.officeculturelcluny.org/ www.officeculturelcluny.org/]
| logo =
}}

The '''Cultural Office of Cluny''', often named '''OCC''' (renamed Cultural Office of Cluny – National Federation of Total Animation [OCC – FNAG] in 1978) is a [[Catholic]]-related association registered as a [[voluntary association]], created in France by Olivier Fenoy in 1963. It is a group of cultural animation composed of a theater company whose activities include art, cultural travels, and photography among other things. Although primarily located in France, the OCC has several centers in [[Quebec|Québec]] and Chile.<ref name="BULLES">{{cite journal |author=UNADFI |author-link=UNADFI |title=Heurs et malheurs de l'Office Culturel de Cluny |url=http://www.prevensectes.com/occ1.htm |journal=Bulletin de Liaison pour l'Étude des Sectes|publisher=Prevensectes |language=French |year=1993 |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211162905/http://www.prevensectes.com/occ1.htm |archive-date=11 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The group was widely referred to as a [[cult]] in the media, particularly after the publication of the first parliamentary report in which it was mentioned.

==History and organization==
Strongly influenced by a text of [[Pius XII]] sent to artists in 1952 and [[Marthe Robin]],<ref name="Communautés">{{cite book |title=Les communautés nouvelles – Nouveaux visages du catholicisme français |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OuErLMi_VTQC&pg=PA119 |last=Landron |first=Olivier |publisher=Cerf |place=Paris |year=2004 |language=French |isbn=2-204-07305-9 |pages=118–19}}</ref> Olivier Fenoy created and developed the OCC alongside Grégoire Molle. The name comes from a café in the Quartier Latin, "Le Petit Cluny", where the founders organized their first meetings and therefore has no connection with the [[Abbey of Cluny]]. In 1973, "the community of Cluny" or "missionaries of hope" was created by hundreds of people who wanted to permanently live this lifestyle.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Jean |last1=Vernette |first2=Claire |last2=Moncelon |chapter=Office culturel de Cluny (OCC) |url=http://pagesperso-orange.fr/sos.derivesectaire/FICHES/office_culturel_de_cluny.htm |title=Dictionnaire des groupes religieux aujourd'hui (religions – églises – sectes – nouveaux mouvements religieux – mouvements spiritualistes) |publisher=SOS Dérives sectaires |language=French |year=1995 |accessdate=25 August 2009}}</ref> The charter accompanying the association's statutes requires to members [[celibacy]] and [[chastity]]. Postulants, novices, and engaged must give their goods to the community.<ref name="Mafia">{{cite book |first=Bruno |last=Fouchereau |title=La mafia des sectes – Du rapport de l'Assemblée Nationale aux implications des multinationales |publisher=Filipacchi editions |year=1996 |pages=96–103 |language=French |isbn=2-85018-648-1}}</ref> The first artistic creation of the group was "Un Caprice" by [[Alfred de Musset]].<ref name="Communautés"/> Students centers were quickly created. The OCC has acutellement about ten centers throughout France ([[Pâlis|Palis]], [[Entrevaux]], Château de Machy, Center Le Brûlaire, etc...). It publishes a quarterly magazine named ''Le Courrier: Nouvelles de Cluny''.<ref name="BULLES"/>

In 1972, the [[Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (France)|Secretary of State for Youth and Sports]] granted to the OCC a provisional approval as an organization of popular education. This approval was withdrawn in 1982, then reinstated by the State Council in 1990.<ref name="Communautés2">{{cite book |title=Les communautés nouvelles – Nouveaux visages du catholicisme français |last=Landron |first=Olivier |publisher=Cerf |place=Paris |year=2004 |language=French |isbn=2-204-07305-9 |pages=428–30}}</ref>

==Reception==
The OCC was listed as a [[cult]] in the 1995 and 1999 parliamentary reports and considered as a "pseudo-Catholic" and a "medium-sized cult" in terms of wealth (its annual budget reached between 5 and 20 million francs at the time). The commission accused the OCC of trying to infiltrate the world of childhood through a formula of courses and seminars in the field of leisure, but also academic support and cultural development.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rapport fait au nom de la Commission d'enquête sur les sectes – ''Les sectes en France'' |url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/rap-enq/r2468.asp |publisher=Assemblée Nationale |language=French |year=1995 |accessdate=25 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rapport fait au nom de la Commission d'enquête sur les sectes – ''Les sectes et l'argent'' |url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dossiers/sectes/r1687anx.asp |publisher=Assemblée Nationale |language=French |year=1999 |accessdate=25 August 2009}}</ref> Anti-cult association [[Union nationale des associations de défense des familles et de l'individu|ADFI]] criticized the OCC for its methods of seduction, its particular lifestyle ([[Sleep deprivation|reduced sleep]], long prayers, inability to be alone, etc.), possible families breakdowns, its hierarchical structure,<ref name="BULLES"/> psychological pressures, and despoilment.<ref>{{cite book |first=Sandrine |last=Plana |title=Le prosélytisme religieux à l'épreuve du droit privé |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DuqSUGVqfGsC&pg=PA328|language=French |page=328 |year=2006|publisher=Harmattan |isbn=9782296008250 }}</ref> Former members claimed to have been "seduced by promises of social advancement" in the group and then were "totally ruined after their stay at the centers in Claux and Le Machy".<ref>{{cite web |first=Roland |last=Huckel |title=Étude technologique de la manipulation mentale, pratiquée dans les sectes contestées |url=http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/huckel-stratagemes.htm#SUBREPTICEMENT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018213648/http://www.anti-scientologie.ch/huckel-stratagemes.htm#SUBREPTICEMENT |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2005 |work=Bouée |publisher=Anti-scientologie |language=French |date=May 1991 |accessdate=25 August 2009 }}</ref> The OCC rules were described as "binding and totalitarian".<ref>{{cite book |first=Cyril |last=Le Tallec |title=Les sectes politiques: 1965–1995 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZdEEsi-3_oC&pg=PA109|language=French |page=109 |year=2006|publisher=Harmattan |isbn=9782296003477 }}</ref>

For their part, [[Bishop of Troyes]] [[Gérard Daucourt]], as well as Bishops Montagrin, Pontier, and [[Jean Vernette]],<ref>{{cite web |first=Jacques |last=Trouslard |title=Quelques réflexions relatives à l'article du journal ''La Croix'' sur les sectes |url=http://www.psyvig.com/default_page.php?menu=12&page=6 |publisher=Psychothérapie Vigilance |language=French |year=2005 |accessdate=25 August 2009}}</ref> criticized the cult classification of the OCC and wrote a protest letter to [[Philippe Séguin]], arguing that this caused some harm to the OCC as well as to the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite book |first=André-Hubert |last=Mesnard |chapter=L'Office culturel de Cluny et le rapport |title=Pour en finir avec les sectes – Le débat sur le rapport de la commission parlementaire |publisher=CESNUR – Di Giovanni |year=1997 |pages=327–34 |language=French |isbn=88-85237-11-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Jean-Pierre |last=Chantin |title=Des "sectes" dans la France contemporaine: 1905-2000, contestations ou innovations religieuses? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OoLXAAAAMAAJ|language=French |page=127 |year=2004|publisher=Privat |isbn=9782708968554 }}</ref> For André-Hubert Mesnard, the classification made by the Parliamentary Commission was not democratic because the list could not be changed after its publication and thus the groups incriminated, including the OCC, could not defend themselves against criticisms.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jean-Pierre |last=Bayard |title=Guide sur les sectes et les sociétés secrètes |publisher=Philippe Lebaud editions |year=2004 |page=345 |language=French |isbn=2-84898-039-7}}</ref> [[CESNUR]] stated that the group was "nearly bankrupted due to the refusal of public theatres to air its shows" after its cult designation.<ref>{{cite web |first=Massimo |last=Introvigne |title=Religious Liberty in Western Europe |url=http://www.cesnur.org/testi/Washington.htm |publisher=CESNUR |date=1 December 1997 |accessdate=25 August 2009}}</ref>

==Judicial cases==
The OCC launched numerous lawsuits or have been sued in many cases throughout its history.<ref name="BULLES"/> The first ones were in 1980: the OCC was sued on material issues in [[Digne]] and [[Aix-en-Provence]]. On these occasions, Fenoy's brother, former followers, parents' members, and a [[priest]] from Lyon provided negative testimonies about the association.<ref name="Communautés2"/>

On 4 June 1998, the court of [[Angers]], then on 4 November 1999, the Court of Appeal of Angers dismissed an OCC lawsuit which said that its leaders were [[Laity|lay]] monks and therefore not under the [[social security]] regulations, and tried to challenge the tax recovery imposed by [[URSSAF]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=UNADFI |author-link=UNADFI |title=Les moines laïques condamnés |url=http://www.prevensectes.com/rev9912.htm#31c |journal=Bulletin de Liaison pour l'Étude des Sectes |publisher=Prevensectes |language=French |year=1999 |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518174230/http://www.prevensectes.com/rev9912.htm#31c |archive-date=18 May 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a lawsuit filed by a former member in [[Grenoble]], it was revealed that Fenoy had homosexual intercourse and that he "kept members in a high material and spiritual dependency". In 1988, the OCC filed a complaint for defamation against the President of the association "L'Alouette" for issuing a leaflet warning against cults in which the OCC was cited, but was dismissed.<ref name="Mafia"/>

The [[General councils (France)|General Councils]] of several French départements, including Rhône and Aube, and the Grenoble city hall gave important subsidies, which raised much criticism.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Quand l'Europe finance une secte |url=http://www.prevensectes.com/rev9808.htm#16 |journal=[[L'Express (France)|L'Express]] |publisher=Prevensectes |language=French |date=6 August 1998 |accessdate=25 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404024205/http://www.prevensectes.com/rev9808.htm#16 |archive-date=4 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20091231030209/http://www.officeculturelcluny.org/ Official site]

[[Category:Arts organizations established in 1963]]
[[Category:Catholic orders and societies]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]