Planned Catholic Boarding School Backed by Billionaire Faces Backlash in France

Pierre-Édouard Stérin’s non-mixed private school, set to open in September 2025, is criticized by local groups for promoting traditionalist values.

The first 'Académie Saint-Louis,' a private Catholic boarding school for boys, is scheduled to open in Sologne, France, in September 2025.
The project is spearheaded by billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin, known for his conservative Catholic views and financial support for right-wing causes.
Local political parties, unions, and organizations have condemned the school, describing it as rooted in 'traditionalist and integrist' values and linked to 'extreme-right' ideology.
The school aims to provide 'integral education' based on Catholic teachings, focusing on the development of body, mind, and soul, and plans to expand to other regions of France.
Opponents are urging government authorities to block the school’s opening, citing concerns about potential ideological indoctrination and its alignment with far-right agendas.