Observing events in the Croatian society with great concern, the Justitia et Pax Commission notes that during these crucial moments for Croatian society, proposals for emergency legislation are being announced and issued that are of vital importance to individuals, the family and the Croatian society as a whole. However, these laws, by their very nature, require broad, thorough and reasoned public debate as well as the seeking of consensus as a way of determining the optimal legal solutions and how to exit the crisis.
There are no reasons for laws such as the Medically Assisted Fertilization Act and legislation governing scientific research, higher education, Croatian radio and television, and proposed strategies in several other areas, such as culture, to be only debated publically for a few days and proposed as emergency legislation. In this way, the impression is being created among the public in an inappropriate manner that the proposals for these important legal decisions are not only in compliance with the laws of the European Union but that they are actually required by the EU. The public should be clearly told that in the majority of the areas regulated by these laws, with the exception of certain recommendations, the European Union neither has any mandatory legal solutions nor is seeking any. Every EU Member State has the right to seek the best and most appropriate legal solutions in these areas, which respect fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the moral and ethical traditions and culture of a given society, and a vision of the individual and society that ensues from such principles.
Through the presentation of assertions to the contrary, the Croatian public is being misled. Some of these proposals are also of such importance to the life of the individual and society that they would require a referendum by the citizens, not an emergency procedure.
Therefore, we particularly urge the media to be in the service of democracy and universally accepted values, giving enough space to a variety of opinions, not labeling the positions of the Churches and other religious communities as backward and inappropriate for modern society. Rejection of the necessary public debate and dialogue between the civil society and the Churches, among other things, is a violation of the accumulated legislation (acquis communautaire) of the European Union that obliges institutions to engage in dialogue with Churches and religious communities. This prevents access to many arguments that contribute to respect for human dignity, justice, solidarity and resistance to the dictates of certain interest groups.
In the current difficult moral, social and economic situation of the Croatian society, which requires many painful measures, as well as consensus as a way out of the crisis, it is not good to divide the society on such important issues, creating the impression of uncertainty and avoiding the fact that at this moment there are many serious economic and social issues that should be urgently addressed.
Re-emphasizing that there is no reason for urgent action in the majority of these proposals, we again urge the entire Croatian society, especially the Croatian Government and Parliament, to open the public forum and allow sufficient time for thorough, calm and reasoned debate on all these important issues.

In Sisak, April 12, 2012

Msgr. Vlado Košić
President of the Commission