Zagreb (IKA) — The position that life is an incontrovertible value and support for the protection of every form of human life, from conception to natural death, was emphasized in a statement by the high officials of the religious communities in the Republic of Croatia following a meeting held on December 16 at the residence of the Archbishop in Zagreb. In this statement, they explained that in regards to respect for life, the religious communities have a common starting point and that human life is God’s gift. It is a reflection of God’s existentiality and therefore it is holy and inviolable. A person to whom the Creator has entrusted the possibility to participate in the creation and sustenance of human life is required to behave most responsibly toward that gift, explained the religious leadership in Croatia.

Regarding the question of artificially and medically assisted fertilization, the religious communities start from the right to life of every conceived child. In their statement, they emphasize that no one in any phase of development has the right to decide which conceived child will be permitted to live and which will be denied the right to live. Respecting the desire and need of parents to have children, the high officials of the religious communities encourage married couples to give birth to new lives within the framework of responsible parenthood, and point out that God is the only giver of life and this in the natural order.

Generally, even in respect to the legally regulated biogenetic and similar areas (manipulation of genes, cloning etc.), the high officials of the religious communities in principle point out the shortcomings of partial approaches to these questions and note the need for their comprehensive and multidisciplinary consideration, including the bioethical dimension, in order to review all the implications and avoid negative consequences for the individual and the general society.

Appreciating scientific progress, to which the religious communities have contributed, the high officials of the religious communities call for the current application of the available scientific and technical possibilities in the area connected with the very origin and sustenance of the conceived human life to be legally regulated in such a manner that a conceived life or the dignity thereof would never be subject to injury.

In the statement, they further emphasize that the religious communities, state and society as a whole must persevere in efforts regarding the improvement and creation of suitable social and living conditions for a dignified family life, that will make it possible for all parents to decide to give birth to every conceived life and assure a dignified life for their children. The officials of the religious communities therefore urge those responsible to promote and create favorable conditions, such as, for example, abolishing poverty and the unjust distribution of goods, general concern regarding the quality of life, making simultaneous parenthood and employment possible, and other similar measures. Moreover, it should be particularly kept in view that abortion as the termination of a conceived life must not be used a means for family planning, as emphasized in the statement.

The high officials of the religious communities also support quality education of children and young persons for a responsible attitude toward their own bodies and sexuality, based on reliable scientific knowledge and common ethical principles, that will not be reduced merely to becoming acquainted with techniques and means for preventing pregnancy and spreading venereal diseases, but will also include suitable objective information on the development of life before birth and respect for life in all its phases, as well as the ethical principles and norms for human behavior in the area of human sexuality.

In the statement, it is also pointed out that the lives of people of all ages are endangered today by violence, war and terrorism, and that in explaining the killing of innocent people it is not infrequent for individuals and groups to be portrayed as if the root of their aggression is in their religion. “Religious communities repeatedly emphasize that Judaism, Christianity and Islam, in their authentic forms, value a person as the image of God and God’s creation, and respect human life and protect it as an authentic value. Thus, every appeal to kill in the name of religion is the instrumentalization of religion and an anti-religious act, and every representation of violence as the consequence of religious affiliation is malevolent,” said the statement.

The statement by the high representatives of the religious communities emphasized the need to devote the greatest attention to persons who suffer from postwar traumatic stress syndrome and whose suffering and disease lead them to suicide which, from the religious and ethical positions is completely unacceptable. They also point out that the question of natality is unavoidable in Croatia, in which more people are dying than are being born. This problem has become acute in the past decades and requires a very serious and urgent approach because it includes the question of the biological survival of the population in Croatia, in all its national, confessional and religious components, said the signers of this statement.

At a moment when there is increasing talk of the phenomenon of the “civilization of death,” even in our own country, the high officials of the religious communities urge all, particularly those engaged in the education of children and the media, and all the members of the Croatian society who in any way could influence public opinion, individually and together, to attempt constantly to create a general atmosphere that will be favorably and positively disposed toward birth and human life in general.

During these days when persons responsible for the European Union are making important decisions about our country, the officials of the religious communities have expressed their support for attempts to make Croatia an integral part of the European Union and urge all to become involved in this process responsibly, so that we can contribute to the community of the great family of European nations while preserving our own identity.

The statement was signed by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić; the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana and all of Italy, Jovan Pavlović; the president of the Mešihat of the Islamic Community in the Republic of Croatia, Mufti Ševko Omerbašić; the head of the Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia, Branko Berić; the head of the Association of Baptist Churches in the Republic of Croatia, Toma Magda; the head of the Pentecostal Church in the Republic of Croatia, Damir Špoljarić; and the chairman of the Commission of the Zagreb Archdiocese for Ecumenicism and Dialogue