Zagreb, November 11, 1999 (IKA) — The Justitia et Pax Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a public statement on the forthcoming election for members of the House of Representatives of the Croatian National Parliament, signed by the president of the Commission, Bishop Ivan Milovan of Poreč-Pula. This statement emphasizes that the election period is a time for the faithful “to consider and decide the future of the political, economic, cultural, social and general relations” and that the future of the Croatian state depends upon the election outcome. Therefore, the election period requires everyone, candidates for the House of Representatives and voters, “to consider the current social conditions seriously, responsibly and honestly and to pave the way for solving social problems, for making the process of democratization more profound and intense, and to promote the general good of the nation and each individual more effectively.”
The statement further emphasizes that although there are multiple parties in Croatia, judging by “political exclusivity” the old, intolerant mentality has still not been overcome that “prevents the development of the society based upon ethical principles and the incontestable, lasting values that are human dignity, justice, solidarity, truth, freedom and cooperation.” A healthy society is only built by respecting ethical principles and lasting values, and therefore “the faithful among the citizens are faced with the inescapable challenge to support those candidates who genuinely want to build the future of the Croatian society upon these foundations.” They noted that in developing a mentality for coexistence in pluralism and tolerance, it is urgently necessary “to liberate ourselves from the old, exclusive mentality, characteristic of the former ideology and single-party system.” In its statement, the Justitia et Pax Commission emphasizes that the forthcoming elections, particularly following the experience of the recent war in Croatia, as well as the transition from a totalitarian to a democratic system, are of “especially great importance.”
“For the common good, we should bring in people to fill responsible positions who are prepared to do as much as possible, in respect to justice and a just legal system, to begin to solve grave problems with greater determination concerning domestic indebtedness, unemployment, the impoverishment of an increasingly large proportion of the population, reduced productivity and other aspects of the crisis. At this moment, Croatia needs people with vision who will consolidate all the positive forces and make it possible for persons, according to their abilities, expertise and integrity, to participate in the renewal and building of a healthy society, that will cultivate cooperation and increasingly better relations with other nations and states, and who will not consider their position to be an opportunity for furthering their own personal or group interests.”
The faithful are urged to participate in the elections, either as candidates or as voters, “because this is one of the most effective and evident ways of participating in the responsibility for the common good of the nation and all the citizens of our country.” The statement emphasizes that this is the moral task of the faithful and is specifically based upon the social doctrine of the Church and “the establishment of greater love toward one’s neighbor … Participation in the elections is a civil and religious duty. All the temptations of indifference, distrust and eventual fear should be overcome, and voters should vote according to their personal consciences for the parties and candidates whose programs are in keeping with the ethical and moral principles of believers, in both public life as well as family and personal life.” The Justitia et Pax Commission therefore calls upon all who are responsible and involved in conducting the elections to make every effort for the elections to be truly honest, “to make a fair election campaign possible, particularly in the mass media throughout the entire territory of the country, and to respect secret balloting and actual voting results.”
The Commission calls upon those responsible to conduct the elections in accordance with the international conventions and European democratic standards, and to assure that the official supervisory and control personnel will be of a mixed structure. “The Justitia et Pax Commission also calls upon all who intend to be candidates for membership in the House of Representatives of the Croatian National Parliament to respect the dignity of every person in the election campaign, particularly that of opposition candidates, to exercise tolerance and to be open and clear in their programs and pre-election promises, in order for the campaign to be conducted without the candidates subjecting each other to humiliation, slander and gossip, because a political opponent is not an enemy but a person with his or her own dignity and human rights,” concludes the statement by the Justitia et Pax Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops on the forthcoming elections for membership in the House of Representatives of the Croatian National Parliament.