Launched at the start of the year by a religious from Lyon assisted by a parishioner, the dating website Navis Fidelis offers to connect practicing Catholics through events organized throughout France. However, the dating tool (42 euros per year) is not open to everyone. Each registration must be validated by an ecclesial referent.
“There were already sites for Christians, but nothing for practicing Catholics,” says Rémi Pellerin, a young doctoral student in fundamental computer science at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), who initiated the project.
“Living an engagement in chastity”
It was during a retreat before his marriage that he met Father Spriet — who officiated in the very rigorous Saint-Georges church in Lyon — with whom he launched this website. “In France, 37% of adults live alone, explains the man of the church. And in our modern society, meeting places are becoming increasingly rare, especially after the age of 26. (the minimum age to register on their site), when celibacy is unchosen. That’s why we offer real events and not an online chat. »
The charter of Loyal ship is clear, each member must commit to going “to Mass on Sunday”, to wish “to live an engagement in chastity and continence”, “to marry sacramentally and to found a Catholic family”. Somewhat anachronistic precepts, but directly linked to Catholic texts. “We don’t ask for anything more than what the church asks for,” assures Rémi Pellerin.
Even if it means assuming the term communitarianism. “Today, people are communal. Everyone is looking for someone who looks like them. Catholics are no exception,” he pleads. The dating tool already has close to 1,000 subscribers.
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