ZAGREB ARCHBISHOP SENDS EASTER MESSAGE

( Editorial: --> 5324 ) ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - The faithful in Croatia need a "new annunciation of Christian hope", said Zagreb Archbishop Monsignor Josip Bozanic in his Easter message released on Tuesday and carried by the Catholic information agency IKA. "We are witnessing the growth of an atmosphere of hopelessness in Croatian society," Archbishop Bozanic said. "We have left behind the difficult age of Communist totalitarianism, the period of new hopes brought about by liberation from the hegemonistic regime and the creation of our own state, the time of Homeland War suffering, victims and wounds. However, many people now seem to fall into a kind of spiritual emptiness. "Looking at the global level, important things have happened in Croatia," such as the establishment of the state, said Bozanic. "However, we must not become passive now and keep looking back into the past. We have to look towards the future," he added. "What worries us is that one is losing trust in state and local institutions and in the administrative and legal system, and is beginning to believe in connections, recommendations and acquaintances. "We notice that a feeling of distrust towards foreign institutions and efforts is beginning to grow in the public, without openly analysing the causes and reasons of those situations. Such a public can lead the nation into a state of illness. "At the same time we are noticing that the vices of the "West", such as drugs, are beginning to conquer our areas. Many of our cities and towns do not have adequate legislation or efficient control over night clubs of noise, serving alcohol to minors etc," Bozanic warned. "Those and other things are reasons for the emptiness and hopelessness which is expressing itself in a special form in post- Communist states - a problem often addressed by Pope John Paul II. We do not intend to blame anyone, but rather call everybody, especially those responsible, to be alert, to change and to renew," the Zagreb Archbishop said. (hina) mm rm /mb 072011 MET apr 98