Split, February 1, 1997 (IKA) – “The Church supports democracy and must distance itself from all political parties,” is the title of an interview with Bishop Želimir Puljić of Dubrovnik, member of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, in the January 31, 1997 issue of the popular weekly newspaper Nedjeljna Dalmacija. In this interview, Bishop Puljić spoke about the relationship between church and state in the Republic of Croatia, the position of the Catholic Church concerning democracy, and rejected accusations that the bishops in Croatia are divided among themselves. “Democracy represents a genuine challenge for the Catholic Church in Croatia. Therefore, l feel it is very important that the Church, as well as people from the Church, maintain a correct position concerning democracy. Since it is normal in a democracy to change parties, since democracy is characterized by a multiparty system, the Church must distance itself from alI parties and not affiliate itself with any of them. Democracy represents a serious challenge in the adoption of majority rule. This particularly refers to laws that concern moral issues such as divorce and abortion. A philosopher once said that democracy is the #!tyranny of the majority#!. However, the misuse of freedom and democracy does not devalue either. Nevertheless, a serious problem arises: how to withstand the onslaught of the #!majority,#! particularly worldliness, in the area of morality and spirituality.
Since democracy offers magnificent opportunities for authentic testimony to religious and moral values, we ask ourselves how to transfer these values into the parliament. How can these values be instilled into politics and economics?” emphasized Bishop Puljić. In response to accusations that the Church is too closely affiliated with the nation, the bishop said, “We are speaking of a pluralistic society. It should be said that the Church proclaims eternal truths.
The society and state convey existential truths. The truth does not live outside of reality. !t is aware of and appreciates existential human truths but it does not assert that they are eternal. The Church has the same attitude toward democracy. For the society, it is important that a person has a job, house and security safeguards, which are its eternal truths.
However, if the Church stopped here, it would betray its mission. The Church supports the nation and the state. It does not negate them. Moreover, the Church blesses them and becomes engaged on their behalf when necessary, but that is not all. The Church proclaims Jesus Christ and acts prophetically. However, it leaves the nation to the nation, the state to the state and goes much further The Church is aware of these truths. !n the past, when the national and cultural identity were jeopardized, the Church acted in this sphere. I hope that the time has come when it will no longer be necessary for the Church to support this identity because now the Croatian nation has its own state and institutions”. In response to the interviewer#!s question regarding rumors that the Church plans to support the Croatian Democratic Party (HDZ) during the next elections, the bishop of Dubrovnik said that since the first democratic elections, the Church has always maintained the position that the faithful are free to follow their consciences in choosing candidates. “If it is necessary to offer some suggestions, the Church will tell its faithful to choose the political parties that will help them the most in their religious development, that will adhere most closely to their principles and convictions. I think that it is not a wel-intentioned construction to assert that the Church is linked to the Croatian Democratic Party”, stated Dr. Puljić. He also dismissed accusations that there is conflict among the members of the Croatian Conference of Bishops.