Alojzije Stepinac: helping to the victims of totalitarian regime

Cilj ovog diplomskog rada bilo je na temelju adekvatne historiografske literature te relevantnih povijesnih izvora utvrditi kome je nadbiskup Alojzije Stepinac pomagao, u kojoj mjeri i na koji način te u skladu s time odgovoriti na pitanje je li zaista učinio dovoljno za žrtve totalitarnih režima. Nakon što su ga komunističke vlasti uhitile i osudile na 16 godina zatvora u montiranom procesu 1946. godine, provedena je velika komunistička medijska kampanja protiv nadbiskupa Alojzija Stepinca potpomognuta stavovima pojedinih povjesničara prema kojima se Stepinac nije distancirao od ustaša i prema kojima nije učinio dovoljno za žrtve totalitarnog režima. Na temelju svega što je istaknuto u radu, autorica objašnjava da se nadbiskup Alojzije Stepinac nije bavio političkom djelatnošću niti je promjenio svoja čvrsta moralna stajališta poniknuta iz vjere unatoč političkim previranjima totalitarističkih vlasti. Njegov socijalni rad temeljio se na zaštiti ljudskih prava i slobode. Iako je pružio pomoć svima, bez obzira na rasu, vjeru i narodnost, osuđen je zbog toga što je štitio hrvatski narodu u želji za nezavisnošću na koju je imao plebiscitarno pravo usput javno prosvjedovajući protiv masovnog teora koji se provodio nad Hrvatima i Katoličkom crkvom od strane komunističke vlasti.The aim of this graduate thesis was to, based to adequate historiographic literature and relevant historical sources, determine whom archbishop Alojzije Stepinac helped, to what extent and in which way, and accordingly to answer a question did he really do enough for the victims of totalitarian regimes. After communist autorithies arrested him and sentenced him to 16 years in prison, in the mounted court process in 1946, a large communist media campaign was conducted against archbishop Alojzije Stepinac. This campaign was backed by attitudes of some historians, according whom Stepinac did not distance himself from Ustashas and he did not do enough for the victims of totalitarian regime. Based on everything that is highlighted in this thesis, author explains that bishop Alojzije Stepinac did not engage in political activity, nor he changed his strong moral beliefs which was confounded from his own belief, despite political turmoils of the communist autorithies. His social work was based on protection of human rights and freedoms. Although he was helping to all people, regardless of race, religion and nationality, he was sentenced because he was constantly protecting Croatian people and he was supporting their desire for independence. Croatian people had plebiscitary right on independence and Stepinac was publicly protesting against massive terror, which the communist authorities were constantly committing against Croatian people and Catholic Church