Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 95 No. 5, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.95.5.3
Interreligious Responses to Health Crises: Assessment of Adherence to Principles for Dealing with Health Crises in Religious Communities in Croatia
Zoran Turza
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Beata Patljak
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Suzana Obrovac Lipar
; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The global health crisis caused by the coronavirus prompted various social entities to implement measures recommended by health institutions to mitigate and prevent the spread of the pandemic. This study focuses on the communication of religious institutions with their members in Croatia during the global health crisis. By examining documents from the World Health Organization and international religious institutions, ten principles of religious communities that can be used to address health crises are identified. It then assesses how religious communities in Croatia incorporated these principles into their official communications. The findings demonstrate that the guidance provided by religious communities in Croatia generally aligns with these principles. However, the analysis also reveals a lack of emphasis on the importance of inter-religious cooperation, the promotion of human rights protection, and the condemnation of hate speech and violence. Furthermore, none of the documents highlight the significance of the witnessing character of faith.
Keywords
COVID-19; religious leaders; World Health Organization; religious communities in Croatia; crisis communication
Hrčak ID:
346362
URI
Publication date:
16.4.2026.
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