Christians and Democracy: Challenges, Chances and Obligations

Govoreći o kršćanskim šansama i obvezama u novom sustavu, ne smijemo zaboraviti na osnovni čimbenik: na kušnje i izazove koje demokracija spontano pred nas stavlja. Tri ključne riječi, stoga, određuju tri dijela našeg izlaganja: izazovi, šanse i obveze. 1. Demokracija je društveno-politički sustav, pluratističan i snošljiv, religiozno neutralan, ali -kad je riječ o vjeri i vjerskom životu - vrlo izazovan i zahtjevan. Uz mnoge prednosti, nosi u sebi i određene kušnje i slabosti. Po naravi je konkretističko-svjetovna opcija, bez čvrstih etičnih kriterija. Ne zasniva se na ontološkim već na sociološkim, nestalnim temeljima. Sudeći po povijesnim kretanjima, izraziti je katalizator sekularnih težnji i opredjeljenja, hedonizma i subjektivizma. 2. Ipak demokracija nije samo kušnja za kršćane i Crkvu, već i velika šansa. Koliko je izazovna, toliko je i poticajna. Jasno je to i očito u njezinim načelima i u stvarnim situacijama: a) u slobodi djelovanja i novim područjima rada; b) u suvremenim oblicima pastorala i apostolata; c) u javnosti kao posebnoj šansi; d) u mogućnosti promicanja i potvrđivanja kršćanskih opcija, na javnoj i privatnoj razini, u društvenom informiranju, kulturnom i političkom životu. 3. Međutim - i to je u izlaganju bitno - i izazovi i šanse imaju za nas svoje drugo lice i drugo ime: obveze. Ostvaruju se osobnim svjedočenjem i zajedničkim zalaganjem, privatnim i službenim dobro organiziranim radom. Ukratko, ponuđene su nam šanse, u stvari dužnosti. Jer, demokracija je vrlo provokativna i zahtjevna; izaziva i nudi, ali ništa ne daje tek tako na dar. Traži inicijativu i poduzetnost: ozbiljne planove i programe, red i rad, organizaciju i akciju. Tko god ne shvati, za njega su se uzalud dogodile promjene i ukazale nove demokratske šanse.Speaking of Christian opportunities and obligations in a new system, they do not allow us to forget the radical factor: temptations and challenges that are set in front of us. Therefore, three key words determine three parts of our explication: challenges, opportunities and obligations. 1. Democracy is a social political system, pluralistic and tolerant, religious - neutral, but considering religion and religious life it is very challenging and demanding. Along with many advantages it includes within itself certain temptations and weaknesses. It has a concrete tendency with secular options, without firm ethic criteria. They do not base them on it ontologically but on sociological unstable foundations. Considering historical criteria, it is an explicit catalyst of secular tendencies and orientations, hedonism and subjectivity. 2. However, democracy is not only temptation for Christians and Church but also a great opportunity. It is as challenging as stimulative. Obviously it is unequivocal in its principles and in exact situations: a) in freedom of activity and new ranges of work b) in contemporary forms of pastoral and apostolate c) in public as a special opportunity d) in a possibility of promoting and confirmation of Christian options in public and private level, in social informing, cultural and political life. 3. On the other hand - and in this application it is very important to stress - both the challenges and opportunities have different faces and different names: obligations. They achieve them both through personal testimony and common pleading, and private and official well-organized action. In few words, they give chances offered us in the way of obligations, in fact as a duty. For democracy is very provocative and demanding; it provokes and offers but gives nothing as a reward and demands initiative and enterprise: serious programmes and plans, order and work, organization and action. Whoever fails to conceive this, changes taking place and new democratic chances are in vain