ZAGREB ARCHBISHOP FORWARDS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - The Archbishop of Zagreb, Monsignor Josip Bozanic, on Monday forwarded a Christmas message to the Croatian faithful and public. "The Church is not called on to organise either the political or the economic life of the people," said the Archbishop. He pointed out the Church neither had to nor wanted to associate with any political party, but added the Church did not want to keep silent about ethical principles "on which social, political, and other decisions are based on." The Archbishop warned about behaviour which brought into question the survival of Christian morality and evangelical values, as well as of civic morality which, he said, was entrenched into the foundations of every democratic society. "It is a matter of political ethics which brings the social balance in our young country to crisis point." According to Bozanic, the Church must not keep silent because, he said, social morality was at stake, "the future of democracy in Croatia is at stake." He also warned about several manifestations which corroborated such behaviour. "When individuals and groups confront each other, too often everything is put down to friend-enemy relations, where everything is positive with the friend, and everything is negative with the enemy (...). "In interpersonal relations, the law of bribery has assumed rule, and has technically been termed commission (...) Where are Christian principles here? The Catholic giving or receiving bribes sins before God and before the people. "The deterioration of the sense for rule of law in the conscience of and in relations among many Croatian citizens brings justice and peace in our Homeland to risk point. Contracts are poorly complied with, in the economy for example, many remain owing to other. Our judiciary does not seem to do be doing enough in defending its citizens, the common good, and the rule of law. "The privatisation of so called socially-owned property seems to have benefited a narrow class of individuals. Individuals have amassed wealth, while the middle class has grown increasingly poorer. "And finally, behaviour characteristic of the communist regime is increasingly being imposed upon our society. This speaks sufficiently as to how deep that mentality has affected us. "Certain groups or political organisations wish to identify their interests with the interest of the nation, which may negatively affect peace within the state. "Surveillance services often act poorly, but only those protecting foul personal or group interests may fear control. "Evident is an insufficient willingness for transparency and truth-facing, regardless of which side it comes from. Instead, an animosity psychosis is created." The Zagreb Archbishop said, "we feel the promotion of peace and reconciliation in Croatian society and in our state to be our primary task." He added, "in our society there is a lack of sensibility for the common good, for justice, responsibility, social fairness, for correct dealing with state institutions (...) It is therefore necessary to promote civic virtue on all levels and in all fields." Archbishop Bozanic concluded his Christmas message by saying: "We need not lose faith. God's unity with man is the pawn of our hope. There are abundant reasons for hope in our Croatian society." (hina) ha/sp mm