Zagreb (IKA) – Experts in the fields of theology, law, sociology, psychiatry, psychology and counseling together with commissioners for pastoral activity among families, during a round table held in Zagreb on November 17 entitled Violence in the Family, attempted to explain the causes of this form of violence and find solutions to prevent it.

This round table discussion is one of a series of events in the attempts that Croatian Caritas is making under the auspices of a project to develop a network of family Church counseling centers, explained the head of Caritas, Ivan Milovčić, during introductory remarks. The fruits of a three-year project, Expansion and Development of the Network of Church Family Counseling Centers in Croatia, are 25 educated counselors from 11 Croatian dioceses and 3 dioceses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 10 counseling centers in 8 Croatian dioceses and 4 in 3 Bosnian and Herzegovian dioceses.

The president of Croatian Caritas, Auxiliary Bishop Josip Mrzljak of Zagreb, spoke on the increase in violence, particularly among children, young persons, in families, and toward the elderly, and explained that it is this way because neither life nor man in the image of God from the moment of conception to natural birth is respected. Croatian Caritas wants to help people but these are “fire-extinguishing measures,” explained Bishop Mrzljak. He pointed out the fact that these days prostitution is a current topic as the greatest degradation of women.
Dr. Mijo Nikić, S.J., an assistant professor of the psychology of religion at the
College of Liberal Arts of the Society of Jesus in Zagreb, explained that a person acts on four levels — spiritual, social, psychological and physical, and that violence in the family affects all these dimensions. Dr. Nikić presented psychological advice in the prevention of violence, such as the acceptance of a healthy plurality of opinion, the development of trust and empathy instead of passing judgment in relationships, the transformation of anger into hope, developing spontaneity, flexibility and creating a positive life philosophy. Among spiritual and biblical suggestions in the prevention of violence, Fr. Nikić mentioned “Be angry but do not sin!” pointing out the danger of suppressing strong negative emotions, because hatred destroys the human soul, which is created for love.

The public attorney for children, Ljubica Matijević Vrsaljko, noted that emotional coldness and abuse in the family is the first reason for the development of violent behavior among children, because statistics show that “maniacs” from the neighborhood make up a small percentage among abusers. Regarding the legal protection of children, she noted that the law is a “fire-extinguishing measure” because the child continues to live in a violent family. Therefore, in addition to legal proceedings, families and children should be provided with education and counseling, in which she sees the role of the Church. In Croatia, from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2003, 9,394 children were registered as direct victims of family violence, and 10,281 children witnessed violence in the family.
The sociologist Dr. Stipe Orešković spoke about the epidemic of violence in the world and said that the media, entertainment and the film industry produce violence in order to survive. The journalist Branka Valentić pointed out that the media should help identify and report violence. She also spoke about the problems that journalists encounter when speaking about these subjects, pointing out the importance of cooperation with experts in order to convey precise information and protect children’s identities.

The moderator of the round table discussion, Prof. Mario Bebić, was the leader of the project entitled the Expansion and Development of the Network of Church Family Counseling Centers in Croatia.