Original scientific paper

Pastoral and Theological Shifts After the Council

Josip Baloban ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The article analyses pastoral and theological trends and corresponding pastoral shifts in the years after the Council within a specific historical, social and political context in Croatia, i.e. in the Croatian Church. In the period after the Council, there is a certain amount of ambivalence present. On the one hand, there is enthusiasm and the sincere wish to conduct the transformation from the Pre-Council Church to the Post-Council one. On the other hand, there is pastoral satiety, which makes pastoral activity less efficient. In some pastoral areas, not all of the possibilities ensuing from the spirit of the Second Vatican Council are being sufficiently applied.
The period following the Second Vatican Council is characterized by several features, e.g. Theological and Pastoral Week, weekly newspaper Glas koncila (The Council's Voice) and the center Kršćanska sadašnjost (The Christian Present) which have become the main promoters of the Council reconstruction of the Croatian Church. Nevertheless, the desired declericalization of the pastoral concept did not occur, the necessary ecclesiastical and sociological surveys have not been conducted and the model of the National Church was further supported, which manifested itself in the big religious meetings of the 70s and 80s. Despite the fact that there are different spiritual movements developing in Croatia and coming from outside of its borders, that an enviable and unique parish catechetization was developed (without the greater participation of lay persons) and that big shifts were conducted in the sacramentary pastoral, the Post-Council ecclesiastical and pastoral structures which are necessary for the pastoral activities of the Church have not become a custom.
The first democratic elections in 1990 caught the Church unprepared for more efficient functioning ad intra and especially ad extra. The imposed war as well as the post-war period diminished the critical and prophetic role and task of the Church in society. Nevertheless, during the 90s the Church succeeded in establishing the Military Vicarship and military chaplaincies, and in going into retirement homes and hospitals.
Finally it can be stated that the Church in Croatia did not succeed in adopting the Second Vatican Council in an optimal way, and it did not adapt optimally to the new social and political situation. Pastoral and theological shifts were not conducted to the same extent in all areas of ecclesiastical activity.

Keywords

Council enthusiasm; the Croatian Church; declericalization; pastoral shifts; churchianity; sacramentary pastoral

Hrčak ID:

29321

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/29321

Publication date:

24.4.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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