Zagreb, (IKA) – At the regular session of the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops held on July 12 in Zagreb, Archbishop Josip Bozanić presiding, the Croatian bishops discussed the conclusions of the Special Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops held in Zadar on June 9, immediately following the departure of the Holy Father from Croatia, and spoke about the systematic implementation of the Pope’s messages in the life of the Church and people.

It was announced that among the main topics of the autumn plenary session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, to be held in Hvar from October 26 to 30, will be the Pope’s messages from his third apostolic visit to Croatia. Archbishop Bozanić also informed the bishops of his conversation with the president of the European Commission, Prof. Romano Prodi, who visited him at his residence in Zagreb on July 10.

At this session, the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued an appeal to the public regarding attempts to introduce yoga into the child-rearing/educational system of the Republic of Croatia. The Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, based on decisions reached by the Government of the Republic of Croatia on February 27, 2003, has signed a contract with the Yoga in Daily Life Association for the implementation of a program to be known as Training of Educators in Applied Exercises from the System of Yoga in Daily Life in Supplemental Educational Programs. The Ministry also required all the county offices of government administration and the Municipal Office of Education and Sports of the City of Zagreb to inform educational institutions about this program, with the recommendation that they establish cooperation with this association with the goal of implementing it.
The bishops point out that this concerns a pilot program that, with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, is supposed to start at the beginning of the 2003/2004 academic year. Participation in this program is, from one side, voluntary, while on the other side, all who are included in the program are required to participate in weekend workshops, about which a separate contract will be prepared although the contents are still unknown. However, it is evident that the educators who will participate in the weekend workshops that are part of the program will apply yoga in their work with children and students.
The bishops point out that yoga is almost being smuggled into our educational system, without the knowledge of the public and without any permission from parents, so that besides educators, there are plans to involve children in preschool institutions, elementary and high schools, and those living in school dormitories.” They note that attempts were made in 2001 to include this program in the elementary schools in Slovakia via the Slovakian Ministry of Education but, due to powerful opposition from the Slovakian public and the active involvement of the Catholic Church and other Christian churches and religious organizations, this did not succeed. Similar projects have been proposed in the Czech Republic and Austria, but were rejected.
“We consider it unacceptable to introduce contents into the public Croatian educational institutions in such a manner that are opposed to the generally accepted value system and European cultural tradition. The consequences of their introduction can be unforeseen and long-ranging, and certainly in opposition to the proclaimed principles and tasks of our public education. If the implementation of this program commences at the beginning of the forthcoming school year, in an unacceptable manner it will benefit a particular organization, i.e. its founder, who wants to introduce Hindu religious practice under the pretence of exercises into the Croatian schools, without any respect for legal procedure. For all of these reasons, we sharply protest the introduction of this program in the public child-rearing/educational institutions of our country. Interested persons can pursue their interests but certainly this should be done outside of the school system. This appeal is primarily directed to our government, particularly its Ministry of Education and Sports, as well as the entire Croatian public. We particularly urge parents to raise their voices in a responsible manner and not allow their children to be manipulated in the Croatian child-rearing/educational institutions,” states the appeal issued by the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops.