UPHOLD BOTH SIDES
But "Sarko the American" - a nickname he earned for his pro-American views - stressed he agreed with the separation of church and state and only wanted to ease some practices that faith leaders, especially Muslims, consider anti-religious.
"We should uphold both sides - accept the Christian roots of France ... while defending secularism," he said. "We don't want to change the law separating church and state. The French don't want that and the religions don't want it either."
Sarkozy said France needed "convinced Catholics who are not afraid to say who they are and what they believe." But he made clear he welcomed outspoken believers of all faiths and was not trying to mobilise Christians to support certain policies.
"Of course, those who do not believe should be protected from all forms of intolerance and proselytism," he said. "But a person who believes is a person who hopes. The republic has an interest in having many men and women who hope."
RTL radio commentator Serge July noted the Catholic Church in France has criticised Sarkozy's crackdown on immigration and plans to drop most restrictions on Sunday shopping. "Catholics may vote for him, but the bishops are wary," he said.
The president stopped short of discussing his own religious views, avoiding a faux pas the French might find even less pardonable than talking about religion and politics in general.
French commentators have expressed amazement that candidates in U.S. primaries discuss the Bible, question others' beliefs, reject evolution or declare that freedom required religion.
"France is very hostile to religion in politics," said Olivier Roy, a leading expert on secularism and religions, especially Islam. "We have different traditions for dealing with this."
