What political views did the Institut Canadien support when Wilfrid Laurier belonged to it?

When Wilfrid Laurier was a member of the Institut Canadien, the organization functioned as a political club for advanced liberals, known as Les Rouges.1

The institute was characterized by its liberal spirit and a critical tone toward the conservatively orthodox institutionalism of church and state in Quebec. Specifically, the group held:2

• Anticlerical views: The institute frequently came into conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, notably by publicly displaying books that the church had deemed undesirable.2
• Republican views: The members advocated for republican ideals, which stood in opposition to the established religious and political order of the time.1

Because of these stances, the society faced significant pressure and condemnation from ecclesiastical leaders, such as Bishop Ignace Bourget, eventually leading to a decline in its influence by the end of the 19th century.2