The Croatian Bishops’ Conference has concluded its latest session.
At the 55th session of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference (HBK), the Croatian Catholic bishops discussed the issues of evangelization-catechism, pastoral-catechetical priestly education and the curricular reform, and expressed the view that they do not support the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, announced the HBK on Saturday, reports Jutarnji List on October 14, 2017.
The bishops were informed about the results of the public debate on the Istanbul Convention and said they supported the laws protecting women and families from violence, but did not support the Convention that, according to the bishops, in addition to its positive intention of preventing domestic violence, “implements” the terminology of “the gender ideology” into the law.
“The Church advocates for the freedom of individuals and peoples, and does not accept any colonisation that would influence the anthropology on the basis of which we create and build our identity,” announced the HBK. “The bishops call on all responsible stakeholders in society not to be subjected to seductive, unclear and questionable offers which sometimes influence legislation,” said the HBK, adding that Europe and Croatia have had their philosophy, anthropology and ethics for centuries.
In line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Science and Education, regarding the implementation of the comprehensive curricular reform, the bishops are particularly interested in Catholic catechism in primary and secondary schools. They expect from the expert working group to draft the plan and programme of Catholic religious education within the deadlines set for the review so that they could be reviewed simultaneously with other subjects.
The bishops expect a transparent selection of professionals and scientist from various areas, especially when it comes to the subjects within the system of education which make the system Croatian. These are primarily Croatian language, history and those subjects which in any way protect and develop all that has been achieved in the ancient and more recent history of Croatia.
It is expected that the Ministry will have the support of those scientific institutions which are considered the pillars of the Croatian society, such as the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences and other relevant bodies which protect the Croatian language, history and identity.
The HBK was informed about the inauguration of the new Dalmatian Orthodox Bishop Nikodim Kosović. “Bearing in mind all that the Croatian bishops did and said during the Homeland War, in the ecumenical spirit, the bishops consider as inappropriate and unfounded the admonition of Catholic bishops and believers by the Serbian Patriarch Irinej, and do not recognise themselves in the Patriarch’s words,” the HBK announced.
The bishops re-elected Želimir Puljić, the Archbishop of Zadar, for their president.
Translated from Jutarnji List.
