Other
Social-religious conditions at the time of launching the ‘Divine Service’
Vicko Kapitanović
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split
Abstract
Divine Service was the first journal published in former
People’s Republic of Croatia after the break of diplomatic
relations between Yugoslavia and the Holy See (1953). On the
basis of legislation and published historical disputes the author
briefly follows the twists and turns of these relations as well
as their reflection in the Church life in Croatia. The break
was caused by ever greater jeopardizing of material position of
the Church, seizure of properties, physical maltreatment and
imprisonment of numerous church persons, suppression of
religious freedom, like prohibition of church papers and editing,
abolishing religious education in state schools, obstruction of
religious education in churches, encouraging the institution of
the Society of Catholic Priests who should have served the state
purposes. After the relations break off the state of the Church
in Yugoslavia deteriorated. The blame for poor relations was
shifted on emigrant clergy, especially those gathered around St
Jerome in Rome. The candidates for priests were being pulled
out of seminaries. Theological schools were being closed, and
the Nationalization Law (1958) was taking the Church property
left after the enforcement of earlier laws. Just at the time of
Cardinal Stepinac’s death, the symbol of suffering (1960), the
Holy See started trying to alleviate the hard condition of the
Church in Yugoslavia. The death of Stepinac seemed to have
eased reaching the agreement. In easing the tensions a possibility
of publishing the periodical Divine Service opened up.
Keywords
Služba Božja (Divine Service); Catholic Church; communism; religious papers; Interdiocesan Liturgical Board
Hrčak ID:
62506
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2010.
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