Slovenia, without forgetting ” “

In our review of the countries that will join the European Union in 1st May, this week it’s the turn of Slovenia, the smallest of the republics of the former Yugoslavia, though the one with the highest living standards in the post-Communist world. In recent years, it has successfully relaunched its economy, has an industrial system that has almost reached Western European standards and is ready to act as a bridge to the regions of south-east Europe, a market that, with its 60 million consumers, is a mouth-watering prospect for the states of the EU. The European aspirations of the Slovene people were amply demonstrated during the referendum on membership on 23 March 2003 when 88% of the electorate said ‘yes’ to the EU. Nonetheless fears and risks still remain. We discussed them with Msgr. Franc Rodé , president of the Slovene Episcopal Conference. In this series of reviews we have already presented Cyrus (SIR no.14/2004), Poland (SIR no.15/2004) and Malta (SIR no. 18/2004). EU entry marks for Slovenia not only a point of arrival but also one of departure. After years of Communism, what role can the Slovene Church play in this new European period? “The Church in Slovenia must do everything possible to preserve the religious values that, even in the Communist period, it had succeeded in preserving among the people and among the faithful. In this phase of our history we must take great care not to squander what we have safeguarded with so much exertion and so many sacrifices, in spite of the pressure and hostility of the Communist regime. Without forgetting the risks we run”. What are these risks? “I refer, in particular, to the illusion, ours and that of the other peoples who have suffered from the Communist regime, of being able immediately to share these deeply rooted values with the other traditionally Christian countries of the West. It’s a task that requires time and patience”. Don’t you fear losing your cultural as well as your religious identity? “We are a very small country, less than two million inhabitants, with a language and culture of its own. The Church must be one of the forces that help us to preserve our national language and culture in the future Europe. But at the same time the Church’s universal character will help the Slovene people to integrate into the European Union to form a family of peoples of Christian tradition. That is a further task for the Church: helping us to abandon a closed form of nationalism in order to open ourselves up to other peoples and cultures without sacrificing or renouncing our own identity”. But are there also advantages? “One advantage common to all the former Communist countries could be that of consolidating a democracy that’s still precarious, with many imbalances in our countries. I’m convinced that EU entry will consolidate our democratic systems”. The division of the Christian Churches is all the more scandalous in a united Europe. Will the Slovene Church in Europe multiply its efforts to promote ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue? “We for our part will draw on our traditional friendship with our Orthodox brethren. The peoples about to enter the EU are all of Catholic tradition, with the exception of Cyprus. Our Church, I repeat, has a tradition of friendship with the Serb Orthodox Church and with Patriarch Pavle. In Slovenia our Orthodox brethren have only one church, so that’s why we place our own churches at their disposal for their liturgical feasts and celebrations”. How is the Slovene Church preparing for entry into Europe? “I would like to point out, first of all, our involvement with eight other countries of Central Europe in the Katholikentag and in the joint pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuary at Mariazell in Austria on 22/23 May. There we will celebrate together our entry into Europe. As the Episcopal Conference we are preparing a pastoral letter on Europe that will be published a week before our entry into the EU on 1st May. Cultural events and liturgical celebrations are also planned in the parishes and dioceses”.