Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. We urge you, the Catholic faithful, to approach the upcoming presidential election in the Republic of Croatia deliberately and responsibly, so that your vote will contribute effectively to the continued development of our Homeland. We hope that you will discuss our message with other Croatian citizens of open mind and good will who seek the genuine good of the society in which we live.
Choosing the President of the Republic entails not only the right to vote but also a responsible civic duty and constitutional opportunity to exercise the democratic freedoms that were achieved in our Homeland through great efforts and unselfish sacrifices, not only ours but those of previous generations.
The Church, for its part, “praises and esteems the work of those who for the good of men devote themselves to the service of the state and take on the burdens of this office ” (Gaudium et spes, 75).

2. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, the President of the Republic of Croatia, as the head of state, “shall represent and stand for the Republic of Croatia at home and abroad, … shall take care of the regular and harmonized functioning and stability of the state government … [and] “is responsible for the defense of the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia” (Article 93).
Accordingly, dear faithful, we urge you to choose that person among the candidates whose life and public activity most reflect statesmanlike wisdom and ability.
a) The President of the Republic responsibly represents the total Croatian reality, taking care that his approaches and positions primarily reflect love of the Homeland. It is precisely his love of everything that we call the “soul” of the Croatian nation and state which guarantees that he as the President will be dedicated to the values of our nation and the promotion of the contents and symbols of these values. It is expected that he wisely and consistently appreciates the external manifestations of statehood, particularly the unifying internal strength of the nation – in the Homeland and other countries – by affording importance to days of memorial, symbols and efforts to convey to others the treasures upon which the sovereign state of Croatia and national identity are built.
b) The President is the guarantee of the national unity, concord and harmonious coexistence of all the citizens. Therefore, he must carefully avoid anything that could create the impression that he is the representative of only some citizens and their views, because otherwise he would be neglecting the entire Croatian entity, which grew from the Christian heritage. It is his duty not only to respect the autonomy and division of authority in the state government but also to assure that those who wield authority complete the tasks entrusted to them in a suitable manner, with service to others, especially the most vulnerable, in their hearts.
c) The President is the point of reference for the preservation of the independence of the Republic of Croatia. None of his actions should call its territorial integrity into question, especially by providing concessions at the expense of state sovereignty in order to achieve short-term economic or other objectives. In the preparation for the accession of our country to European integration and various forms of international cooperation, it is the responsibility of the President to recognize how to preserve Croatian sovereignty and the identifiability of its values.

3. Starting from Christian positions and finding ourselves within the Croatian cultural milieu, we are of the opinion that a president who in his office respects and protects Christian principles and the principles of the natural law of the defense and protection of human life from conception to natural death, the dignity of marriage and the family, and the free choice of religious instruction in school can represent Croatia for the good of its citizens.
Similarly, the President of the Republic must be a person who feels strongly that the society should live on the truth about the past, so that interpretations – based upon untruths – would not be a source of new conflicts and dissension in the nation. The President is obliged to be dedicated to the whole truth about the aggression against the Homeland and its defense from 1991 to 1997.
Moreover, within the context of the current Croatian reality, it is not only very important that the future President of the Republic represents the unambiguous condemnation of the crimes of fascism, Nazism and communism but that, investing his authority and powers, in a special way he should support the shedding of light upon the crimes of the communist regime, as the member states of the European Union have done, and the elimination of the legacy of communist ideology from the modern Croatian society, which still wants to present itself in an attractive light, although our society bears unhealed wounds and the seed of many current difficulties from this period.
From the candidate for the office of the President of the Republic who will be acceptable to the faithful and all citizens who respect the values essential in the formation of the Croatian national entity, it is expected that he will stress the importance of Sunday as a nonworking day, primarily as a profound cultural reality of our nation. Likewise, the faithful and all citizens have the right to expect the President of the Republic to be exceptionally sensitive to social justice, to oppose everything that obstructs the genuine prosperity, progress and happiness of the Croatian people, ranging from corruption and economic fraud to the spread of the scourge of drugs and other addictions, especially among children and the young. The believer and every responsible citizen will give his vote to that candidate who respects the God-given gift of nature so admired in Croatia, of which we are proud and for which we thank God. It was not given for sale or disposal by individuals who exercise power for a certain time in our country.

4. We know that the voters may be confused by the number of candidates for the upcoming election. We are aware that it will be said, sometimes intentionally, that the voters have no one to vote for and that, in any case, nothing can change. We bishops are often criticized that the criteria we emphasize are too high and there is no candidate who would meet them. It is important not to succumb to the temptations of despondency and indifference. Among the candidates, there are always those who are more suitable and less suitable.
It is our duty to warn you not to allow yourselves to be seduced by smooth talking, an impression reinforced by the media arts. We also want it to be possible for all to present their positions and beliefs objectively, equitably and properly via the mass media, especially the public media. We are well aware that the media have great responsibility for achieving a fair contest but that they can also fail to meet this level of responsibility and behave in a partial and biased manner. Do not let yourselves be deceived or shaken. In the end, it is you who choose!
Therefore, we urge you not to waive the right of free choice. It is our obligation as believers to become as well acquainted with the candidates as possible. After becoming well informed, we should pray for the intention of making a correct choice and vote according to our consciences, with profound faith that God guides our history, redeemed by the sacrifice, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Political activity, with concern for the common good, is an honorable and necessary service in the community. Those engaged in this calling must seek to preserve and promote the dignity and honor of the political profession, which is often undermined. This especially occurs during campaign advertising, when there are great temptations to behave in an inappropriate and incorrect manner toward political opponents. In public appearances, an honorable and responsible politician sticks to the content and platform that he is representing, and avoids personal insults, untruths and libel that are to his detriment and that of the society in general.
It is expected that presidential candidates, respecting the Constitution and laws, never put their personal benefit above the common good, in the spirit of the inscription at the entrance to the Palace of the Major Council next to the Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik: “Forget private affairs, tend to public ones” (Obliti privatorum, publica curate). Also remember the words of the Holy Scripture: “You should also look among all the people for able and God-fearing men, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and set them as officers over groups” (Exodus 18: 21).
We urge you during the days of the election campaign to pray fervently for the unity and progress of our Homeland, and commend it to the intercession of the one we have called the Queen and Advocate of Croatia for centuries. We urge and encourage you faithful and all people of good will to exercise your civic and Christian duties in the upcoming presidential election.

Your Bishops

Zagreb, November 23, 2009