Conference paper
Christian Understanding of Politics - The Relationship between the Church and the State
Miljenko Žagar
; Ambassador of Republic of Croatia in Slovenia
Abstract
The author defines the concepts of church, politics and state within the framework of Catholicism. The church is defined as a community of believers, radically declericalized following the II Vatican Council. Politics is viewed as a public activity with a view to achieving common good within a political community, which is a broader concept than a state. The state or public authority are but agents of political communities in the service of common good. Such a definition is diamaterically opposite to the totalitarian views of the state as a self-purposed entity superimposed to political communities and societis. The Christian foundation of for understanding the relationship between the Church and the state is an individual and his/her conscience. The church is independent of the state but within its field of competences nevertheless includes certain secular functions: it protects the dignity of man, strengthens social solidarity and gives meaning to ordinary human existence. Regardless of its role in society the Church has given the nod to a discretionary participation (individual and collective) of the faithful in politics.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
110492
URI
Publication date:
1.12.1994.
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