Hope and responsibility

Croatian bishops, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and in the light of the messages of the Popes that have strongly supported the project of the European Union (EU) on many occasions over the past years, have conveyed their opinion as regards EU’s progress as well as Croatia’s accession to the EU. The bishops have attentively followed Croatia’s progress along this road, as part of the Church’s thousand-year-long participation to all the events experienced by the Croatian population. The positions of the episcopate along this path have been collected in a special letter published March 22 2010. In the letter the bishops pointed out that the idea of the creation of the EU originates in that part of Europe which wasn’t under Communist rule, and that its founders were politicians who had conceived united Europe on the grounds of the common Christian heritage which today more than ever is neglected to the benefit of economic unification. As regards the theme of universal values and human dignity, solidarity and democracy, largely debated across Europe, the Croatian bishops reiterated that these will have solid foundations provided that the transcendent dimension of the human person is not rejected. They thus highlighted the precious contribution of the two Popes: Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The former, at the beginning of his third pastoral visit to Croatia, on June 5 2003, conveyed the wish that Croatia may successfully fulfil her aspiration to join the EU. On that occasion the Pope underlined that "Croatia’s rich heritage will surely contribute to strengthening the Union as an administrative and territorial unit, and also as a cultural and spiritual reality". Pope Benedict XVI, in his address to Croatian bishops for visit "ad limina apostolorum", on July 6 2006, said: "Your Country, Croatia, has always lived in the context of European civilization; hence, it justifiably desires to be recognized as a member of the European Union. Its desire is to cooperate, with its entry into this Institution, for the good of all the Continent’s inhabitants. Thus, the Nation will be able to enter into relations with other European peoples, bringing the contribution of its own culture and traditions to the joint search for the full truth about man. Indeed, it is essential that the building of the common European house always be founded on the truth about man, hence, based on the affirmation of each person’s right to life, from conception until natural death; on recognition of the spiritual element of the human being in which his inalienable dignity is rooted; and on respect for the religious choices of each person in which his insuppressible openness to the transcendent is witnessed".The greatest weakness of the EU, the bishops pointed out, is the loss of Christian memory and tradition, coupled by a certain degree of practical agnosticism and religious indifference, which is the reason why a large number of Europeans seem to be living without spiritual roots. Moreover, the bishops underline that the loss of natural and Christian ethical values has led to the legalization of abortion, to experiments on human embryos, to euthanasia, to homosexual marriage, to the rejection of Christian symbols. This situation is accompanied by the fear of the future, which creates a dark and uncertain environment making people ever more confused and insecure. In such a context of crisis, reflected also in Croatia’s population, the bishops firmly reiterate the fundamental values that need to be promoted and protected, to serve as witnesses of truth and hope in Europe. First of all marriage, understood as the union of man and woman, is a value that is being threatened by the ongoing deconstruction of marriage through a set of initiatives whereby marriage is placed on the same level as other forms of union. Another theme addressed by Croatian bishops is ‘Sunday as a day of rest’, constituting an unalienable human and social value. Moreover, the Croatian Caritas supports and asks support for the presence of Christian symbols in the public realm because they represent Catholic faith and also because they express national identity, which is invariably shaped by Christianity. Finally, the bishops invite lay faithful to participate with coherence and competence in social and political life. Along with all the people of good will they are called to contribute to the true progress of Croatia and Europe. The Croatian Church conveys a hopeful appeal to responsibility for July 1st: may Croatia’s accession to the European Union pave the way to a process of responsibility and hope.