We, the Croatian bishops, assembled at the Twenty-Third Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, held in Zagreb from April 24 to 26, 2001, the first session to be held in the third millennium, have discussed current challenges, particularly those facing Croatian society, in the spirit of the apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II, “At the Beginning of the New Millennium.”
In compliance with the magisterium of the Second Vatican Council, which proclaimed that “the joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties of the men of this age … are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ” (GS 1), we have directed our attention to that which is causing anxiety in our society and that which gives us cause for hope.

1. At present, tensions are issuing from grave economic difficulties. Growing unemployment has particularly afflicted the young, who are therefore losing their faith in the future, falling victim to drugs and other vices. The unresolved status of refugees and displaced person, which has lasted for many years, makes these people feel forgotten and without hope. Similarly, many others afflicted by the consequences of the war in various ways are in a similar position, such as veterans, invalids, widows and orphans. The demographic dying out of the population, emigration to foreign countries and the problems facing our emigrants have contributed to the severity of the situation.
Like many in our society, we bishops are concerned about the opposition expressed to the war of Croatian Liberation, because the events, persons and circumstances under which it occurred are not infrequently being presented without due respect and regard for the truth. A source of uncertainty for many is the absence of clear goals according to which the international community is proceeding within our territories. Not a small reason for anxiety is the ongoing conflict among political parties that exceeds the framework of democracy and hinders our country’s emergence from its economic difficulties. Frequent constitutional amendments are not contributing to strengthening democracy or a general sense of security.
In addition to these phenomena in our homeland, we are also disturbed by events in neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina. Recent undemocratic acts by international political organizations have aroused uncertainty and fear among the members of the Croatian nation. We share the suffering of all who have been afflicted by such a situation and express our support to our brothers in the episcopate of Bosnia-Herzegovina in their work to establish correct relations among the religions and nations in that country.

2. Despite all the above-mentioned difficulties, there is also reason for hope. Hope is certainly provided by the fact that we are entering the new millennium in a free and independent Croatian state, for which many throughout history, especially during the final decade of the twentieth century, have made great sacrifices, even of their lives. Hope is also offered by the fact that many are working to build our young country with the same degree of unselfishness. We are thinking of the many fathers and mothers who, under unfavorable economic conditions, are accepting and raising the children that God has given them; the young people who have succeeded in resisting the various pernicious tests of our time; the teachers and educators who — although inadequately paid — selflessly strive to transmit to the young generation not only knowledge but also authentic human and Christian values; the retired persons who patiently bear the afflictions of small pensions and physical infirmity; the entrepreneurs who under difficult circumstances are opening new jobs and paying workers fairly so that they can support their families with dignity; and all the people in our society who are conscientiously and honestly performing their duties. We urge the mass media to write more and more often about such inspiring examples.
We have certainly not missed the many signs of hope that God has given the Church and mankind during the celebration of the Great Jubilee. For us bishops, priests, religious and faithful, this is an opportunity of grace for us to renew the concrete acts of testifying to our faith and explaining the reasons for the hope that we bear (cf. 1 Pt 3,15).
One of these reasons for hope is the fact that the first year of the new millennium was proclaimed the Year of Dialogue. In this we see a sign of the times by which God reminds us not to become discouraged and opens the path for us on which we can surmount difficulties. The values of dialogue should also be cultivated on all levels of our society and with the international community. However, such dialogue also requires and presupposes faithfulness and love of the truth, in accordance with the words of Jesus: “the truth shall make you free” (John 8,32).

3. We are convinced that in the coming elections for local self-management, some of the problems can be solved because this is an opportunity to entrust the safeguarding of the general good to people who have demonstrated a readiness to work for it unselfishly.
Therefore, we urge all the faithful to fulfill their civil and Christian duty and participate in the elections. Of course, we cannot determine how someone will vote but we urge each Christian to weigh carefully in his conscience for which persons and programs he can cast his votes.
At the end, we urge all the faithful to pray more intensely, particularly during this Marian month of May, for the peace and advancement of our Homeland, and for a solution to the problems in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the Pope’s invocation: “Let us go forward with hope” (At the Beginning of the New Millennium, No. 58).

Bishops of the CCB