The young and religion” “

The pastoral care of Croatians living abroad and catechesis: these are the two main questions debated by the bishops of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the course of a joint assembly held in Sarajevo on Wednesday, 6 March. The meeting, attended by over twenty bishops, ended in the afternoon with a mass celebrated in the cathedral of Sarajevo. This is the third time that the bishops of the two countries have met together to discuss common issues. “We belong to the same people and to the same language – explains Msgr. Pero Sudar, auxiliary bishop of Sarajevo – so it’s obvious we have common pastoral fields”. Discussions focused on the teaching of religion in schools and in particular the question of text books. The two States have different laws on the matter. In Croatia, religious education – once it is chosen by parents at the beginning of the school year – is compulsory, whereas in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is at the total discretion of the religious communities, in the sense that “the teaching of religion is free – explains Msgr. Sudar – and anyone who wants to can come to an arrangement with the teacher. The school limits its involvement merely to placing a schoolroom at the teacher’s disposal. This is a provision which was taken by the State after the fall of the Communist regime and before the beginning of the Balkan war, and which the Catholic Church has always challenged, asking that “the question be regulated by a specific law”. “Without the teaching of religious values – says Msgr. Sudar – we are convinced that society, especially if morally destroyed by the war, will have difficulty in rediscovering the path of reconciliation and co-existence” and “forging a future different from what we experienced in the past”. The presence in the country of peoples who belong to other Christian confessions and other religions “is not an obstacle”. This is demonstrated by the experience of the Catholic schools established by the Church in the aftermath of the war. Right from the start the emphasis was placed on multicultural teaching. Although these schools call themselves Catholic, they also teach Islamic values; indeed “the teaching of the Islamic religion works very well”. “I think – says Msgr, Sudar – it is possible in these schools to educate children in respect for others in everything they stand for. If, on the other hand, we think we can avoid differences to ensure a better understanding, we are kidding ourselves; that’s a swindle that has already cost us dear”. According to some data presented in Rome in the course of an international conference organized by the IOM (International Organization for Migrations), the Balkans are an area at risk due to the spread of the HIV virus. “We need to bear in mind – Msgr. Sudar comments – that during the years of Communism, Bosnia Herzegovina, like many of the states of the Communist bloc, was in some sense protected from the diseases of modern society. But now with the opening to the Western world, the presence of the multinational forces and foreign companies, our little country is open to realities that have taken us unprepared. If we compare the percentage of drug addicts or Aids patients with those of ten years ago, it’s cleat that a growth has been registered. But I wouldn’t say they are percentages that exceed those of European cities. The young people of Sarajevo are healthy and strong, but have a need to grow with great values”. The spread of Aids in the Balkans Drug trafficking, prostitution and the white slave trade, and the presence of the international continents: these are the three main causes that are determining the spread of Aids among the population in the Balkans. According to the figures released during a conference held in Rome, it transpires that, out of a sample of 640 drug addicts of various Balkan countries, approximately half exchange syringes and 71% of these have high risk sexual relations. In Serbia alone 61% of Aids patients contracted the virus by using infected syringes. On the initiative of the IOM, a programme of prevention and support to national health services will be implemented in Slovenia, Croatia¸ Bosnia, the Yugoslav Federation, Macedonia, Albania, Romania and Bulgaria. M.C.B.