Here in the good old U.S. of A politicians are delighted to have their pictures taken in church, particularly if they’re running for office or have done something wrong (see here, here and here).

But in France, it’s another story altogether. Former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal is apparently quite miffed that the Parisian mag Match has published photos of her praying in an Italian church. She’s actually suing them.

‘I’m in favour of the secular state and therefore that question (of my religious beliefs) is a private matter and there is no reason why I should be hounded,’ Royal said on a radio program, according to Reuters.

Royal also said that: ‘There is no overlap between public commitments and private beliefs or religious faith.”

Really? No overlap? How does one separate one’s conscience, which is often informed, if not molded, by religion, from the moral decisions they make?