Original scientific paper
Christianity and the EU: reporting of the weekly „Glas Koncila” during the period of Croatia’s accession to the European Union (2009-2013)
Ivana Bendra
; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Abstract
This paper discusses the way of reporting of the Croatian Catholic weekly „Glas Koncila” during Croatia’s accession negotiations with the EU. The research was carried out using the qualitative inductive content analysis, the focus of which was the Treaty of Lisbon and, accordingly, the definition and classification of newspaper articles reporting on its influence on the EU relationship with Christianity and Christians themselves. The analysis covers the articles from December 2009 to July 2013, which are then categorized into three categories: the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU new values; new evangelization and the future of the EU; the future of the Republic of Croatia in the EU.
By detailed analysis of the articles in the „Glas Koncila”, it was found that, during the accession process of the Republic of Croatia to the EU, the articles were pointing to the discrepancy between the values that are in the foundation of the Lisbon Treaty (2009) and their actual application to the relationship of the EU to Christianity (European Christian civilization heritage and Christian values) and ultimately to the Christians themselves. Pointing out that the consequence of Europe’s detachment from Christian view of life, i.e. promoting the ideology of economic neo-liberalism in the frame of which the concepts like secularism, pluralism, relativism, and materialism become new values, the articles point to a relativistic attitude to Christianity in general and especially to the rights of Christians to freedom of religion. Therefore, the authors of the articles point to the importance of new evangelization, dialogue and greater responsibility of Christians in facing the spiritual and moral crisis in which the EU currently is. In the end, the analysis of the articles shows that, despite the above stated, Croatia’s accession to the EU is supported and, in the context of the accession, it emphasizes the key role of Christianity in the Republic of Croatia and its importance in promoting new evangelization and preservation of European Christian heritage and Christian values in the European Union.
Keywords
Glas Koncila; accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU; Lisbon Treaty; the EU new values; new evangelization
Hrčak ID:
199441
URI
Publication date:
26.3.2018.
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