I did not realize how anti-Catholic Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was until reading his bio just now in Wikipedia. Raised Catholic by his mother (although never baptized on account of his father’s anti-Catholicism), he lost whatever faith he had as he grew older and also became a anti-royalist Republican. (His mother was a royalist). He insisted that the two sons of his who predeceased him be denied a priest on their deathbed and that no crucifix be placed over their coffin or grave. He himself refused the prayers of the Church up to his death. He is interred in the Pantheon in Paris, a tribute to all religions, especially the god of rationalism. Two million escorted his remains to the Pantheon. And his soul? “What doth it profit a man . . .?”
