Review article
Social and Theological Guidelines of the Roman Catholic Church in Croatia in the Wake of Social and Political Turmoils in 1971
Domagoj Sremić
; High School Sisak, Sisak, Croatia
Abstract
The Catholic Church in Croatia experienced deep changes in 1971 in its field of activity, influenced, on the one hand, by new guidelines of the Second Vatican Council, and, on the other, by the normalisation of political and social relations with the Yugoslav regime. This was the year of national and social turmoils in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, within which Croatia asked for a juster treatment. Religious and cultural activities of the Catholic Church contributed to the overall endeavours for a different general perception of Croatian society.
Marian and Mariological congresses, which took place in Zagreb and Marija Bistrica in August 1971, represent significant social and theological tendencies of the Croatian people in the wake of the Croatian Spring, as well as the normalisation of relations and a reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, after a nearly 20-year long interruption. As a fruit of spiritual growth initiated at the Second Vatican Council, the congresses are, on the one hand, an exemplification of endeavours for a spiritual renewal of the Croatian people on the whole and a one-thousand-year long nurture of the cult of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and, on the other, an expression of ecumenical endeavours, what was in those moments of key importance for a republic such as Yugoslavia for reasons of mutual tolerance and understanding among its peoples.
The congresses that took place in 1971 could be characterised as a spiritual renewal of Croatian Catholics with which they tried to confirm their legitimacy within the world Catholic community and display their rich religious and cultural heritage.
Keywords
Marian congress; Mariological congress; the Roman Catholic Church; the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; diplomacy; Karlo Balić; ecumenism; the Croatian Spring; the Second Vatican Council
Hrčak ID:
135413
URI
Publication date:
29.12.2014.
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