Zagreb, (IKA) – The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, the fundamental framework of the doctrinal corpus of Catholic social teaching organized in a systematic manner, was presented on Monday, April 24 in Zagreb. This is one of the most important Church documents of recent years and was requested by Pope John Paul II. It was prepared by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The Croatian translation of the Compendium was published in late 2005 by Kršćanska sadašnost, the Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Justice and Peace Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops.

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church was exhaustively presented by the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino. The first part of the Compendium deals with the fundamental presuppositions, nature and principles of the social doctrine of the Church. The second part, composed of seven chapters, deals with the classical themes of social doctrine – the family, human work, economic life, the political community, the international community, the environment and peace. The third part contains a series of recommendations for the use of social doctrine in the pastoral activity of the Church and in the life of Christians, above all the lay faithful. In Cardinal Martino’s presentation, he spoke about the concept of the common good, the principle of subsidiarity, ethics and economy, market regulation, the contribution of Christians to the political community and democracy, the safeguarding of nature and the promotion of peace.

Dr. Stjepan Baloban, head of the Department of the Social Doctrine of the Church at the Catholic College of Theology, University of Zagreb, emphasized at the presentation that the Compendium offers that which Croatia lacks, which is to arouse awareness in individuals and groups regarding the protection of the dignity of each person, regardless of which person or group is in question. He stated that at the present time, the person in Croatia is endangered by work on Sundays, unemployment, discrimination in hiring (for example women who intend to have children, young people looking for work without success), and the manipulation of consumers in various ways. Presenting the Compendium, Dr. Baloban pointed out that this is a document that in a clear, concise and understandable manner provides an answer to very important questions for the Croatian situation, i.e. what is the social doctrine of the Church and how can it be useful.

Speaking about the social doctrine of the Church, Dr. Baloban mentioned that it was not well represented in Croatian theology until the year 1990, nearly unknown among Christians and that much has been accomplished in this respect in various ways after 1990, including lectures, round-table discussions, greater emphasis upon the social doctrine of the Church in schools of theology and large meetings of the lay faithful. Dr. Baloban mentioned that the Croatian Conference of Bishops has established the Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which through various activities and publications has become a permanent presence in Croatian public life. He also mentioned that in the year 2000, the Department of Social Doctrine was established at the Catholic College of Theology in Zagreb, which promotes the social doctrine of the Church in a scientific manner. He also pointed out that in Croatian public life, especially in the media, messages from the Croatian bishops on topics of social doctrine have great significance. Dr. Baloban also stated that Church officials and lay faithful of the Church in Croatia are poorly acquainted with the social doctrine. He concluded that the central message of the Compendium could be that there is no complete Christian formation without the social doctrine of the Church as the fundamental framework for the lay faithful and especially for priests and religious. Commenting that there is a lack of public discussion in Croatia about important questions relating to the present and future, Dr. Baloban observed that the Compendium offers an excellent foundation for interdisciplinary discussions because it starts from the Christian concept of the dignity of the human being, which it presents to all as the basis for complete and integrated humanism. It is precisely through the social doctrine of the Church, especially the Compendium, that public discussion among the Croatian public could be initiated regarding the essential questions of the Croatian present and future, such as the consequences of the inherited mentality, the social state, questions of labor and capital, the civil society, preservation of national wealth, the path toward the EU, the problem of low natality and the general safeguarding of life, concluded Dr. Baloban. At the beginning of the presentation, Cardinal Josip Bozanić welcomed Cardinal Martino, delivered introductory remarks and formally presented Cardinal Martino with a copy of the Croatian edition of the Compendium.

The same day, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Sanader, received Cardinal Martino and informed him about the progress being made by the Republic of Croatia toward full membership in the European Union.

In the evening, Cardinal Martino presented a lecture on the current significance of Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, God is Love, to the professors and students of the Catholic College of Theology in Zagreb. Cardinal Martino said that at the beginning of the encyclical, the Pope noted that the expression “God is love,” from the First Letter of John, is at the center of Christian faith, not an ethical norm. To be a Christian is not the result of an ethical decision. At the center of Christianity is one event and one Person, said Cardinal Martino.

In reflecting about the direction of theology today, Cardinal Martino noted that theology must speak with its rationality of the truth that is love. The cardinal limited his lecture to pointing out the tripartite basis of the significance of the communication function of God’s love: creation, salvation in the person of Jesus Christ and the Good Samaritan. Cardinal Martino emphasized that observing ceremonies and regulations does not constitute faith if effective love does not issue from the person of the believer.

The second part of the encyclical refers to the concrete activity of the love of the Church – caritas – and is central to the Pope’s thoughts about the social doctrine of the Church. According to Cardinal Martino, the encyclical presents the entire social doctrine of the Church. The Pope speaks about the historical development of social doctrine, the role of social doctrine in history and remarks on the importance of the publication of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. The social doctrine of the Church conveys some principles that, Cardinal Martino notes, contribute to the Church community, such as emphasis on the fundamental dignity of the human being, respect for the human being, brotherhood and the war against poverty. Therefore, the social doctrine of the Church, as the Pope sees it, is inseparable from love. It is precisely in the social doctrine of the Church that the specific moral theology in relation to the theology of love is revealed. A link occurs here between the two theologies, according to Cardinal Martino.

Regarding the charitable activity of the Church, the Pope appeals in his encyclical for the awakening of new strength. The Pope sees this strength in the lay faithful who are called to participate in public life and work together with other authorities. “Love should motivate the entire existence of the lay faithful,” said Cardinal Martino, adding that this is revealed on the social plan in service, family life, cultural life and political life.