[4] The group was once associated with the Society of St. Pius X, but it has evolved under the new leadership of Alain Escada and the "chaplaincy"[further explanation needed] is now provided by Capuchin Friars of Morgon.

[10] On February 14, 2023, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) released a report in which it classified Civitas as a "religious nationalist", "anti-LGBTQ+", and "conspiracy" group.

It, and ICHTUS[further explanation needed], were split out from the integrist Cité catholique movement[12][13] founded by the pro-Vichy intellectual Jean Ousset.

"[22] For historian Étienne Fouilloux, this militant association, in promoting the establishment of the restoration of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth, is against republicanism and thus the French Republic itself: Civitas joue dans les mouvements catholiques un rôle homologue à celui des trotskystes ou des anarchistes dans les manifestations de gauche [...] celui d'une minorité agissante moins soucieuse de solutions concrètes que de tension révolutionnaire (ou contre-révolutionnaire) [In Catholic circles, Civitas plays a role similar to that of Trotskyites or Anarchists in Leftist demonstrations ..., they are an activist minority less interested in finding concrete solutions than fomenting revolutionary (or counter-revolutionary) tension] Civitas came to public attention in 2011, in Paris, when it demonstrated for several consecutive evenings in opposition to the performance of some plays, notably Romeo Castellucci's Sur le concept du visage du fils de Dieu (original Italian: Sul concetto di volto nel figlio di Dio, "On the concept of the Son of God's face") at the Théâtre de la Ville — one performance was interrupted by militants who climbed on stage and threw eggs and waste oil over the audience[24] — but also against the Théâtre du Rond-Point who were performing Rodrigo Garcia's Golgota Picnic, which they judged blasphemous.

In this context, Civitas was criticised for a photo series on its website showing a sex education teacher in compromising sexual positions.

[37] Accused by the Press and his opponents of spreading false rumours[38] (the photo came from Canada), Civitas justified their actions by saying they did not have the means to authenticate its origins and it was not out of character for their chosen subject.

Civitas stated that Ce film ne répond pas à la mission d’Arte qui est de "concevoir, réaliser et diffuser des émissions de télévision ayant un caractère culturel ("This film does not fulfill Arte's mission as the 'inventor, maker and broadcaster of television programmes of a cultural nature'").

[39][40] Civitas' actions against the Romeo Castellucci play was deprecated by diverse groups including the Mayor of Paris and senior Catholic dignitaries.

[41] Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, a Government spokesmen, said that Civitas' slogan Non à l'homofolie ("No to gay madness"), used at the November 2012 demonstration, was "misplaced".

Some members of the feminist group FEMEN, topless and wearing a parody of a nun's habit, used powder fire extinguishers to spray demonstrators[42] including, according to the organisers, children.