Zagreb, (IKA) – On December 15 in Zagreb, an observance was held in commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of the introduction of Catholic religious instruction in Croatian public schools. The observance, held at the Komedija Theater, was attended by the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Francisco Javier Lozano; several Croatian archbishops and bishops; the minister of science, education and sports, Dr. Dragan Primorac; catechists, religion instructors and school principals.

Religious instruction in school is a subject of exceptional importance for the Church, one of the few services through which the Church regularly encounters thousands of children and young people in Croatia, pointed out Cardinal Bozanić, adding that religious instruction in school provides the Church with great opportunities and challenges for its evangelical and educational activities. Religious instruction in schools is also a subject of exceptional importance for our schools because a school that wants to cultivate the whole person and authentic culture cannot neglect the religious and spiritual dimensions. Religion is not an incidental human reality or a transient cultural phenomenon but the permanent values of each culture, cautioned the cardinal. Referring to the fact that much has been said and done recently to improve our educational system, and in actual documents that refer to our schools it has been emphasized that the school aspires to serve the advancement of the economy and the society, based upon knowledge, the cardinal noted that the genuine progress to which our society and school system aspire can only be achieved if it serves to cultivate the individual. In the school system, it is particularly necessary to appreciate the role of the parents. It is not sufficient to foster only technical knowledge and ability but also the moral fitness of the individual. Stressing that mere scientific and technical training without the corresponding moral fitness will not bring a better future to either the individual or society, the cardinal stated that in this sense religious instruction has an irreplaceable and essential role within our school system, particularly in the achievement of its educational goals.
“Therefore, religious instruction is not a foreign entity which does not belong to the school or that should be marginal in the school system. Religious instruction is within the context of the school. Its role and place should be further emphasized in relation to other subjects and educational areas within the national system of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports that is being developed,” said the cardinal, explaining that the role of school religious instruction in Croatia, as in contemporary Europe, is much more significant that it may seem at first glance.

“We may say that during these fifteen years, much has been done by the Church and school for the introduction and advancement of religious instruction, with which we can be genuinely satisfied, but we are also aware of numerous tasks that are before us and which do not permit us to be satisfied with that which has been achieved,” emphasized the cardinal, adding that it is first necessary to prepare a comprehensive evaluation of religious instruction during these fifteen years, in order to make useful improvements based upon insight into the actual situation. Commenting upon how we live in a world that is undergoing lasting changes, the cardinal said that this means that religious instruction, insofar as it attempts to provide answers to the actual questions of children and young persons, should be engaged in a continuous process self-examination, evaluation and improvement, as well as confrontation with all the Church, school and cultural challenges. He concluded that the ongoing redefinition of religious instruction in the schools would be more successful if there were successful parallel work on the systematic and quality fostering of parish catechesis, bearing in mind that these two forms of religious education are mutually complementary.

Minister Primorac pointed out that this is also the anniversary of all the attempts that the Croatian state has made since it was established, and shows that the Catholic Church and faith are incorporated in the foundations of the Croatian society. Religious instruction should be experienced as enrichment, as a contribution to life-long education. Religious instruction makes the school receptive to those values which, unfortunately, were considered foreign for nearly fifty years, which were considered to be something unnatural, which made the Croatian society recognizable as a society that fears truths, moral values and which therefore had to be distanced from religious instruction, said the minister. According to current unofficial data that the ministry has available, in elementary school approximately 87% of the students receive religious instruction, and approximately 75% in secondary school. This is an indicator of the firm foundation and commitment of Croatian families to truth and values. In elementary schools there are 1,922 religion instructors and in secondary schools there are 517, which is a great force which promotes genuine values. Therefore, the minister thanked religion instructors for the good that they are achieving, not only in terms of that which they have already achieved but also regarding the school reform project. In conclusion, Minister Primorac said that he was pleased that the Catholic university is becoming a reality.

In a presentation on the history of Croatian religious education, Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem recalled that religious instruction was introduced into Croatian schools in the year 1774, during the Habsburg Monarchy, and was abolished on February 1, 1952. He spoke of a series of obstacles that catechists encountered following the end of the Second World War, until religious instruction was abolished. He also emphasized the importance of the education of religion instructors, particularly the work of Bishop Stjepan Bauerlein, who organized a catechesis school for religious, and also presented a series of courses and reports in the Conference of Bishops of Yugoslavia in connection with the topic of adjustment to the new circumstances. Bishop Srakić also recalled the establishment of the Catechesis Institute of the Catholic College of Theology in 1961, according to the concept of the former archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Šeper. He also mentioned the publishing of manuals for catechesis by Kršćanska sadašnost, the Cyril and Methodius Society, the Croatian Salesian Province and Glas Kocila, with particular mention of Mali koncil – MAK.
An important role in the area of catechesis was also played by the catechesis schools, which contributed to education, and later in the early 1990s provided a good foundation for the introduction of confessional religious instruction in the schools instead of religious culture.
Dr, Milan Šimunović spoke about the response of the Church to historical challenges. The Church in Croatia cannot conceal its satisfaction regarding everything that has been achieved in the area of the introduction of religious instruction in the schools, and the confessional model of religious instruction is the result of the personal choices of the parents and the students. Since the beginning, catechists and other experts have supported the position that the introduction of confessional religious instruction in the Croatian school system has its theological, ecclesiastical and anthropological-pedagogical foundations. If the current educational system wants to be pluralistic, interdisciplinary and intercultural, it must take account of religious education, which is harmoniously incorporated in comprehensive and authentic general education, said Dr. Šimunović. He recalled the efforts invested in the early 1990s and later in 1998 and 2003, in the preparation of new plans and programs in religious education, textbooks for religious education, training of religion instructors and cooperation with the College of Education and Rehabilitation in order for religious instruction to be provided in the best possible manner to persons with special educational needs. All of this provided the groundwork for the introduction of Catholic religious instruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in other religious communities. Taking into account the rapid changes at all levels, Dr. Šimunović noted that it is necessary to hold the role of religion instructors, particularly lay persons, in higher esteem; to devote greater attention to the specialization of professionals, particularly pastoral theologians and catechists who are capable of conducting religious instruction projects in the schools, as well as in the catechesis office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the diocesan offices; and the renewal of the Croatian Catechesis Association.

The chairman of the Commission for Catechesis in the Educational System, Dr. Ante Pavlović, speaking on “From the Heritage to the Future,” said that the educational system provides a meaningful and quality starting point, a framework and standard for current and future Croatian schools, and recognizes and confirms the value of religious instruction in the school. The process of the restoration of religious instruction did not proceed without difficulties and opposition. That which the Church, the educational system and European pedagogical theory and practice consider and promote as natural components of education within the school are considered by some individuals and groups to be foreign entities in the school system, said Pavlović. Such an attitude is connected with disputing the educational tasks of the school in general, particularly the comprehensive concept of educational values, and in this context it is necessary to consider Catholic religious instruction in the future. Therefore, the foundation for religious instruction in the future is an understanding of the nature of the future of the Croatian school, its future goals and tasks, noted Dr. Pavlović, and pointed out three characteristics of religious instruction in the context of the future school system: plans, programs and religion instructors. In the future, the Croatian school should concentrate more upon character formation and truly become a place for the comprehensive upbringing and education of human beings, and religious instruction should be even more firmly grafted to this task of the school. It should be focused upon cultivating the person as a whole and achieving an educational system that stresses knowledge, ethics, abilities and values. During the past 10 years, the Croatian Conference of Bishops has prepared and published religious instruction programs and textbooks for elementary and secondary schools. The programs were prepared in 1998, revised in 2003 and are currently being coordinated with the Croatian educational system. However, a good educational system and quality textbooks are not sufficient for successful upbringing and education. Therefore, the teacher and religion instructor are key factors in the present and future schools, and greater mutual confidence and cooperation are necessary. The religion instructor must have a formed and mature character, the necessary professional qualifications, a spiritual-religious identity and credibility. He exercises his calling and mission, not merely a mandate and employment, and in this spirit he grows from his Church community, he is an active member in cooperation with the parish and establishes the necessary relationships among the school, family and parish. Evangelization is the first and most important task of the Church, which places religious education in the heart of evangelization, concluded Dr. Pavlović.

The president of the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for Catechesis, Auxiliary Bishop Đuro Hranić of Đakovo and Srijem, thanked all those who since the early 1990s have systematically worked on introducing religious instruction into the schools. He recalled that this occurred when throughout Europe the school has been increasingly losing its role in upbringing. There have been various major reforms attempting to raise the quality of the school’s educational dimension, particularly in the area of the natural sciences in order to contribute to economic development and competitiveness. Croatia, although afflicted by the suffering of war and economic recession, or even precisely owing to them, has been able to recognize the importance of character formation and development. Bishop Hranić thanked the parents who have exhibited a readiness to support the school, which makes it possible for them exercise their role as their children’s primary teachers. Therefore, parents gratefully appreciate the contribution of the school and Church as the delegated teachers, and a relatively high percentage seek and expect the help of the Church and choose to enroll their children in religious instruction at school. The bishop thanked all those who have worked on the signing of the contract between the Holy See and Croatia in the area of education and culture, as well as the officials of the ministries.

The Lado folk music and dance ensemble, the men’s choir of the Zagreb Cathedral conducted by Maestro Miroslav Martinjak and the Zagrebački Mališani children’s ensemble provided the musical portion of the program.