Zagreb, (IKA) – The bishops of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a message on the forthcoming presidential election, which will be held on December 28 of this year. Among other things, the bishops call attention to some aspects of the current social, cultural and political circumstances in the Croatian society, and express their expectations from the future President of the Republic of Croatia.
The President of the country, by virtue of the responsibility of the office, should be a moral authority and conscience of the society, state the bishops. Under the circumstances of the severe economic crisis, which have resulted in the increasing impoverishment of the people and the social stratification of Croatian citizens, it is to be expected that the President of the Republic will use his/her authority to promote finding a way out of the economic difficulties into which we are sinking more deeply every day. Therefore, the bishops are convinced that the President of the country should strengthen diplomacy, especially economic, and thereby help promote the overall recovery of our society.
Expressing the hope that the future President, as the head of a state that is a member of the European Union, will respond to the appeal recently issued by Pope Francis during a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and be a person who by his/her example will set a precedent by standing up for the rights of the oppressed, especially the poor, warn of the need for a change in mentality, rejecting the functionalist and privatized mindset that inexorably leads to a “throwaway culture,” and strongly support the establishment of a more just distribution of goods and the dignity of work, because without social sensitivity there is no development of the society as a whole.
According the message issued by the Press Office of the CCB, we are urged as believers to support the platforms of those presidential candidates who are committed to promoting the dignity of women, the protection of marriage as a union of a man and woman, and the culture of life. It is also expected that the head of state will respect religious freedom, freedom to choose religious education and the right of conscientious objection to unjust civil laws that force people to act contrary to the requirements of the moral order, the fundamental rights of a person and the teachings of the gospel, since this would be a confirmation of democracy and indicate respect for the pluralism of a society.
The bishops expect the President of the Republic of Croatia to condemn all crimes unequivocally, regardless of when and in the name of which ideology they were perpetrated, because this is an essential prerequisite for the establishment of social peace and national unity.
The President, as the “first person of the Croatian state,” is called to love his/her nation, provide an example of healthy patriotism, respecting the signs and symbols of the Croatian national identity, and prevent the selling off of national riches. At the international level, it is necessary to promote and fight for the interests of all Croatian citizens and their country, and to view Croats who live in other countries as an important factor in achieving good international relations, whose political and cultural rights should be supported, according to the bishops.
“Although the crisis has affected a large number of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and one senses a certain indifference and the temptation to become despondent, we must not leave the impression that nothing can be done or changed. We note, therefore, that failing to go to the polls is also a form of voting, because then we leave it to others to decide on our behalf, and inevitably suffer the consequences on those decisions. We urge you, therefore, to become well informed about the platforms of the presidential candidates and not waive your right at the polls to participate actively in deciding your future,” state the bishops.
The presidential candidates are urged to maintain their personal dignity and honor during the election campaign “because avoiding inappropriate and incorrect behavior toward political opponents reflects in the best way on one’s suitability for this responsible office.” The bishops also urge the media to fulfill their duties during the election campaign with high standards of professionalism, in addition to what is expected of them, and also to respect the holy days and, thereby, manifest a high level of tolerance and democracy.