Renewed society

During the press conference held a few days ago in Šibenik, at the end of the 37th Plenary Assembly of Croatia’s Bishops Conference (CCB), Msgr. Ivan Devcic, archbishop of Rijeka and permanent member of the CCB, presented the position of the Bishops Conference regarding a number of current issues pertaining to Croatian society. The bishops voiced their concern for the acts of violence among children and the youth, which they said is one of the outcomes of the crisis in values affecting Croatia’s society. Ample extracts of the Bishops’ document follow. A Commission for Europe. “Croatia’s bishops positively view the establishment of a date for the conclusion of the negotiations regarding Croatia’s EU membership process. Thus, in the course of the plenary meeting, the bishops formed the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the European Union that is called to help Croatia’s accession to the EU to have a Christian and spiritual dimension”. Concern over acts of violence. Furthermore, the bishops voiced their “concern over the wave of violence that has been afflicting Croatian society” while endorsing the “efforts of those opposing crime and corruption”. The bishops claimed they “support all initiatives aimed at the enforcement of the Rule of the Law and of its institutions” and that they “uphold citizens’ wish to uproot evil deeds and to identify not only the perpetrators but also those who organized the crimes”. The bishops cautioned that in this activity “human rights ought to be respected at all times”. CCB bishops believe “the situation does not require special measures”, since, they claim, “it is sufficient that the authorities in charge fulfill their own duties”. The weakness of the families. The bishops, and all citizens alike, “share their concern for the acts of violence amongst children and youth and demand that this dangerous phenomenon be seriously addressed in order to identify and eliminate its causes”. According to the CCB, “violence among children is a sign of families’ increasing weakness, that is the first and foremost institution in charge of children’s education and socialization”. Thus, the prelates “appeal to all public officials to help the family fulfill its own primary role, in compliance with the principles of subsidiarity. Such assistance must be constantly granted to schools and to all those institutions in charge of child and youth care. The violence among children along with all other forms of violence are indicative of the crisis in those values that give meaning to the life of an individual and enable him to be a responsible member of our society”. The role of the media. In the document, the Bishops claim that it’s important “to ask which models are being conveyed to the youth by the media and other channels and investigate the relationship between juvenile violence and crime in society, showing that goals in life can be more easily achieved with dishonest rather than honest means”. The bishops underlined the precious and powerful role played by the media and requested that the reported news be as objective as possible, which they believe implies giving minor emphasis to accidents and crime news and by reporting also the positive news. In order for the media to convey a comprehensive picture of what happens within society, it is necessary that society be viewed in its entirety and also report positive facts. Thus, it is necessary to encourage and inspire the youth to follow the path of goodness”. While appreciating the measures taken to combat violence and criminal acts, the bishops also warned: “positive results will be achieved only through ongoing efforts for the spiritual and moral renewal of our society. Implementing this objective is extremely important and is a task that should be addressed by all those occupying important positions within society”.