Original scientific paper

The Laity: Unutilised Social and Church Potential in Croatia

Stjepan Baloban orcid.org/0000-0002-3138-3222 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of the role and the place of the laity in the Church in Croatia over the past two decades. The Croatian laity is not the same today as it was twenty years ago. During that period huge changes have taken place with regard to the laity and their role in the Church and the society in Croatia. On the one hand, the laity has a much greater knowledge of the Church, Christianity and the role of faith in public life and a great number of the laity have gained an ecclesiastical-theological education at the various faculties of theology in Croatia that they are prepared to use in social and Church life. This is a huge potential that is insufficiently utilised. On the other hand, social and particularly church life, have given way to opportunities for Christians to become involved as the laity. This is a specific mark of the Croatian context which differs significantly from say, other European countries with a strong Christian or Catholic tradition. In Croatia there is still a positive atmosphere and willingness amongst the laity for cooperation with the clergy.
The article is divided into three parts. The first is entitled, »The Specific Croatian Situation« and it presents a brief analysis of the initial enthusiasm in the first decade (1992 - 2002), pointing out several important positive factors such as the gathering in general, establishing the Croatian Conference of Bishops' Centre for Promotion of Social Teaching of the Church, reviving existing and founding new associations and societies of the laity. Furthermore, this section points out the opportunities for the theological-ecclesiastical education of the laity, the opportunities for employment of the laity in the Church and the society and of a certain failure of Christians in politics. The second part is entitled, »The Hidden Potential« and it tackles the question: How to channel this huge potential of the laity towards its realisation in the Church and social life? The official social doctrine of the Church, particularly the Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church (2004), insists on the formation of the laity, particularly for social engagement. In that context, and keeping in mind the Croatian ecclesial situation, the author points out the need for greater engagement at the Church level that will facilitate the needed education at an ethical-moral level for the laity, which is very important for their greater engagement in the society. In the third part, »The Faithful Are Ready for Cooperation«, which is based on an empirical research, Subsidiarity in Croatian Society, the author shows that there is good will amongst the Croatian laity for cooperation in the Church life. The research shows that the majority of the laity trusts their priests, particularly those that they are in closer contact with, their parish priests, and that a certain section of the laity is prepared to take on certain responsibilities in the life of the parish community and to be actively involved in some segments of the church life. The article supports the hypothesis that the Croatian laity has a potential and willingness to cooperate in the Church life but that this potential is insufficiently utilised.

Keywords

laity; specific Croatian situation; social teaching of the Church; formation of the laity; subsidiarity; subsidiary atmosphere

Hrčak ID:

96186

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/96186

Publication date:

29.1.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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