Zagreb, (IKA) – At a press conference held on Thursday, April 29, in Zagreb, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops presented a statement entitled “The Crisis and Progress of Contemporary Croatian Society.”
In introductory remarks, the president of the Justice and Peace Commission of the CCB, Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak, pointed out that the statement is somewhat of a continuation of the commission’s statement on the global economic, social and moral crisis issued in June of last year. The Croatian public received this statement with interest and approval, although it provoked resentment among some individuals. “With the new statement, we wished to inspire hope among our faithful, as well as among all the citizens of our country, and express that we in the Church deem it necessary to examine true values.”
The bishop also noted that the statement also focuses upon several institutions in the society considered to be precisely those that inspire hope in these difficult times. “First of all, we wish to emphasize the importance of the family as an institution that is very necessary and important to us. We also said something about education, particularly solidarity, i.e., based upon Christian values at a time of crisis, attention should be focused upon morality and those institutions that can help the society progress, help divide the burden in solidarity, find the optimal way out, become enriched from these misfortunes and spiritually enhance the life of every person. In this context, the bishops said that the concluding words of the statement are a reminder that man does not live by bread alone but by the Word of God. This does not deny the value and importance of bread and other material goods that we need but instead emphasizes the primacy of the spiritual dimensions that should inspire us, said the bishop.
The items of the statement were presented individually by the secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the CCB, Dr. Gordan Črpić. In the first item, entitled “Crisis and Reforms,” it is recalled that crises have always been privileged moments when there was nothing else to do except pause and distinguish what needs to be urgently changed from what is worthwhile keeping. The second item, “Tolerance and Trust,” concerns the situation in the Croatian society, which is fairly depressing. Nonetheless, Dr. Črpić cited experience in the world that shows that without confidence in institutions and mutual trust among people, it is not possible to build a state or develop a society, especially not a complex democratic society. The third and the most comprehensive item, “The Horizon of Hope,” concerns the institutions, activities and means that can be confidently relied upon in seeking a way out of the crisis and promoting the progress of the Croatian society. These are the family, education, science, solidarity and moderation.
The fourth item, “No to Experiments, Yes to Development,” provides a warning and urges urgent and comprehensive action and solidarity, emphasizing that such action must not be irresponsible and experimental but strongly reformist, i.e., decisive but careful and considerate, bearing in mind all the good and bad in our present practices but also in the experience of Europe and the world in contemporary history. For this purpose, according to the statement, it is necessary to conduct a series of social investigations in order to record the actual status of institutions and the society, thus obtaining insight into their actual development potential. In the final item, “Crisis as an Opportunity for the New Development of Society,” the bishops emphasize that they want to be people of hope in their statements and appeals regarding the current crisis. “We have pointed out that there are actual foundations upon which we can rely as a nation and society in seeking ways out of the crisis and in the development of a Croatian society with solidarity. In addition to emphasizing human rights, duties and dignity, as well as valuing and promoting the family as the foundation of personal happiness, the raising of future generations and the reciprocity of present generations, in conclusion we particularly wish to emphasize the power of friendship that is still alive in our nation and … can be a powerful source of a good life and greater solidarity in Croatia,” stated the bishops at the end of their document.