Zagreb, March 11, 1998 (IKA) – Yesterday, March 10, a series of Lenten lectures began at the Center for the Promotion of Social Doctrine of the Church, collectively entitled “The Social Doctrine of the Church in Croatian Society,” with the goal of increasing familiarity with the social doctrine of the Church, in order for Church members to participate more fully in the Church and society. The social doctrine of the Church is “a challenge for building the civilization of life, work and love,” said Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, who opened the conference. The first two lecturers were Prof. Stjepan Baloban, chairman of the Center for the Promotion of Catholic Social Doctrine, and Stjepan Sever, a lay union activist. People expect rapid changes in the social area but do not think a lot about the people who are supposed to make these changes, since many still carry over a mentality from the former system, Dr. Baloban pointed out in a lecture entitled “The Challenges and Impetus of the Social Doctrine of the Church,” the first of the presentations. Under the new conditions, much is expected from the Church in the social area and its position is sought on various social issues. Thus, the social doctrine of the Church has become a challenge, by which the credibility of the Church is measured, according to Dr. Baloban. Dr. Baloban feels that expectations come from two groups. In the first are the faithful who suffered various injustices during the former regime because of their religion, and the in second are those whose rights have been violated during economic transformation. In Dr. Baloban#!s opinion, the Church, cannot provide a finished solution for the complex social and political conditions in society but it can point out injustices. The Church attaches great importance to the laity who are active in specific social contexts and believes that they can solve social problems successfully, concluded Dr. Baloban. “From Our Neighbor#!s Perspective” was the title of the presentation by Stjepan Sever, in which he pointed out the negative aspects of liberal capitalism for which “labor has become too expensive.” Moving work to countries with cheap labor has resulted in a high unemployment rate in the West. As the social crisis grows, the social doctrine of the Church becomes increasingly cogent, emphasized Sever, pointing out that many people in our country do not know what the social doctrine of the Church is, and it is necessary to acquaint the public with social doctrine, from the schools to the pulpits. “To satisfy a person#!s needs on a continuing basis, and not occasionally” was Sever#!s principal emphasis regarding the relationship between social doctrine and Caritas [charity], which many imprecisely equate with social doctrine. Providing loans for jobs and land is far more helpful than the occasional distribution of clothing and food, emphasized Sever. In conclusion, Sever said that there is a lot of verbalization but social doctrine requires practical application in all parts of society. Cooperation should be established with the labor unions and political parties because believers are active in these organizations. In the discussion following this presentation, Archbishop Bozanić pointed out that the Church cannot provide the society with organizational forms but it can seek opportunities for organization within intself, gathering those who think about social issues to examine the situation in which we live, in order to enable the faithful to act as citizens within the political and social frameworks, party institutions, unions in the spirit of that social doctrine.