Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 70 No. 1, 2000.
Original scientific paper
Morality in Croatia - A Sociological Perspecitve
Gordan Črpić
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marijan Valković
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The work deals with the state of morality in Croatia on the basis of empirical socio-religious research carried out on the general population of citizens of the Republic of Croatia (carried out at the end of 1997 and the beginning of 1998, on a sample of 1245 citizens), as well as on a population of Croatian university students (carried out in 1999 on a sample of 692 students).
The work is divided into seven chapters. In the first chapter are defined the basic concepts (morality, ethics, sociology) and their interrelatedness. The authors have insisted on a universal ethics in ultima linea.
The second chapter treats the subject of sexuality. We can say that over 50% of citizens and students believe that the Church has the right to speak about pre-marital relations (71.8% of citizens and 57% of students), contraception (60.3% of citizens and 49.9% of students), and homosexuality (56.5% of citizens and 4 6.6% of students).
Regarding indulgence and restraint in sexual behaviour, having a lover is justifiable (completely or partially) to 16.5% of citizens and 24.2% of students, living together without being married to 37.2% of citizens and 67.3% of students, having sexual relations before marriage to 56.4% of citizens and 82.9% of students, being homosexual to 11.1% of citizens and 42.4% of students, engaging in prostitution to 4.8% of citizens and 15.5% of students.
The third chapter discusses the theme of »marriage and the family«. Results demonstrate that the family has an important influence on the formation of faith (72.8% of citizens and 54.2% of students). The majority of citizens (83.2) and students (79.5) are happy with their family. Divorce is justifiable to 36.5% of citizens and 54.9% of students. The desired number of children in a family falls from 2.7 by citizens to 2.52 by students, compared to 2.36 by high school students.
The fourth chapter deals with »economy and welfare«. Croatia currently finds itself in a difficult economic situation, with an unemployment rate above 20%, and a large number of retired persons (957 042 to 1016 000 employees). Satisfied with their job in this situation are 45.4% of citizens, and with their financial situation 22.2%. That the Catholic Church provides adequate answers to social problems is believed by 33.2% of citizens and 17.1% of students, and 60.8% of citizens and 39% of students believe the Church provides satisfactory solutions where people's moral needs are concerned. The Church in Croatia is seen as wealthy by 42.3% of citizens, whereas 15.7% of citizens believe that the Church is poor. Concerning one's relationship towards work, a more pragmatic and utilitarian relationship is found among young people and students. There is greater confidence in state-run businesses (50.1% of citizens and 24.6% of students show a high degree, or a fairly high degree of confidence) than in new private businesses (32.1% of citizens and 17.6% of students). For other social institutions, 76,6% of citizens and 38.5% of students have confidence in the police. 84.6% of citizens and 63.1% of students have confidence in the Church, 61.3% of citizens and 28.4% of students in the law and courts, 49.4% of citizens and only 13% of students in the Croatian government, and 41.3% of citizens and 19.2% of students in parliament. With regard to willingness to offer bribes, citizens are readier to offer a bribe when going to a doctor (28.7%), and in order tο speed up an administrative procedure (26.5%), the same think the students with regard to an administrative procedure (44.5%) and when stopped by police for a traffic violation (37.4%). Students generally show more readiness than citizens to offer a bribe.
The fifth chapter discusses »bioethics and ecology«. In Croatia, life is still highly valued. Life has no meaning for 7.4% of citizens and 4.4% of students. A significant portion of the population connects a sense of life with the existence of God (67.6% of citizens; 41.2% of students). Many (80.6% of citizens and 68.8% of students) view abortion as the termination of a human life, yet 64.3% of citizens and 69.2% of students believe it has to be tolerated as a lesser evil. Only 24.8% of citizens and 10.2% of students believe that abortion should be legally prohibited, and 54.8% of citizens and 40.3% of students declare that they would never do it, but 25.8% of citizens and 45% of students see it as a morally justifiable act. Euthanasia is seen as justifiable by 19% of citizens and 37.3% of students, and 62% of citizens and 62,5% of students believe that the Catholic Church has the right to pass its moral judgement on euthanasia, 82.2% of citizens and 75.3% of students think the same with regard to ecology and development. Some 71.1% of citizens and 74.7% of students have confidence in ecological movements.
The sixth chapter presents the results concerning the problems of nationalism, war, peace and reconciliation. A significant number, 65.9% of citizens and 68.5% of students, believe that the Catholic Church has the right to take a stand on the question of disarmament, and 76.6% of citizens and 83.7% of students on racial und ethnic discrimination. More than 50% of citizens and students believe that even in war one needs to offer one's hand in reconciliation to his opponent (57.3% of citizens and 54.8% of students), where on the question of forgiveness after war, citizens (60%) show more readiness than students (48,2%).
The seventh and final chapter deals with general indications and trends with respect to the obtained results. The results show that young people are generally more indulgent and permissive toward all observed dimensions of morality. Religiosity was shown to be an influential factor in the adoption of moral attitudes on an individual level, while it loses its influence in the sphere of social and public morality. With regard to political orientation, those oriented more toward the left showed greater permissiveness.
Keywords
morality; marriage; sexual ethics; bioethics; ecology; nationalism; peace
Hrčak ID:
31176
URI
Publication date:
17.8.2000.
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