Statement by the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for the Doctrine of the Faith on the Pandemic and Earthquakes
Vijeće HBK za nauk vjere
The Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for the Doctrine of the Faith has published a document-exhortation, The Coronavirus Pandemic and Earthquakes: A Call for Conversion.
In this way, the Council seeks to contribute from a spiritual-theological perspective to the question of how a believer should deal with the pandemic and earthquakes that have profoundly undermined safety and caused far-reaching consequences for the individual, the family, the Church and society.
In this document-exhortation, the Council first examines the false images of God used to interpret the present misfortunes and explains the significance of man and his activity for the presence of misfortune and suffering in the world. The Council wants to send a message of hope that God does not abandon man in his suffering but rather constantly offers his protection and salvation in the unfathomable mystery of his love.
Finally, in this document the Council admonishes us to overcome our fears and strengthen our faith, suggests how we can build up our spiritual immunity and urges us to transform this time of crisis into an opportunity to turn to God and change our lives.