Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 77 No. 2, 2007.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
Criteria for Christian Judgment of Political Stances
Stjepan Baloban
orcid.org/0000-0002-3138-3222
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
This article starts from the claim that after the Second Vatican Council the Catholic Church clearly and unambiguously calls on Christians, Catholics to actively participate in political life. This is evident in the social teachings of the Church and numerous documents that offer elements for Christian judgement of political stances. On the one hand the Catholic Church asks that its believers be active in politics and on the other the laity is finding it more difficult to adjust to political life. In Croatia there is a 'general disorientation' concerning the role Catholics in politics. It is therefore necessary in Croatia to publicly discuss the criteria for Christian evaluation of political stances. In the first point the article discusses the Foundations for Christian Evaluation of Political Stances, in the second it discusses Individual questions relating to the concrete Croatian situation. The basic criteria for Christians in politics are to consistency in relation to Gospel values. The Compendium of Social Teachings of the Church (2004) which updates social teachings of the Church in today's time offers certain criteria. The starting point is the human being realised on an individual and social level and at the same time open to Transcedencv. Christian specifity in being politically involved in concrete circumstances in contemporary society comes across some large difficulties. This leads to a discussion of the 'method of differentiating' justified autonomy of the laity inpolitics and of Christians being involved inpolitics both in a negative and positive light. Keeping in mind the specific Croatian situation the second part of the article discusses: Catholics in various political parties; the hardships around public Church discussion about the political options of Catholics; of shifting interests of the laity from the political to the social-charity area; and of the dangers of various 'power mongers' in political life.
In its conclusion the article points out certain Croatian challenges that depend on finding the appropriate criteria to evaluate Christian attitudes in Croatia. This refers above all to the need for public Church discussions on which fundamental criteria will be based upon so that Catholic politicians can either together or in various parties, defend Christian stances and values.
Ključne riječi
Catholics in politics; criteria of politicians who are believers; methods of differentiating; justified autonomy; Christian style of being active in politics; political vocation; pluralism of political choices of Catholics
Hrčak ID:
23236
URI
Datum izdavanja:
29.11.2007.
Posjeta: 1.733 *