CHRISTIAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF POLITICAL CULTURE

U članku se obrađuje i aktualizira pitanje izgradnje političke kulture kao i kršćanskoga doprinosa izgradnji demokracije. Primarno pitanje koje se ovdje obrađuje nije pitanje odnosa Crkve i politike već njegovo usmjerenje prema zauzetu angažmanu oko političkoga odgoja i političkoga djelovanja vjernika laika. Socijalni nauk Crkve u tom kontekstu predstavlja izvrstan doprinos razvoju političke kulture građana. Teološko-socijalna dimenzija crkvenoga govora o političkom životu predstavlja polazište za aktualizaciju pitanja političkoga dijaloga koji se promatra u odnosu prema društvenim komunikacijama i informiranju. Integralno razumijevanje načela supsidijarnosti pritom predstavlja središnje demokratsko pravilo koje, na jednoj strani, ukazuje na služiteljsko obilježje političke vlasti, a na drugoj strani na važnost širokoga političkoga sudjelovanja civilnoga društva u ostvarenju općega dobra. Sintezom iznesenih smjernica završno se naglašava važnost kršćanskoga bavljenja politikom.Abstract The article deals with, and addresses, the issue of building a political culture as well as of Christian contribution to building democracy. The primary question that is being dealt with here is not the issue of the relationship between Church and politics, but its focus is on the engagement by the lay faithful in political education and political action. In this context, the social doctrine of the Church is an excellent contribution to the development of the political culture of citizens. The theological-social dimension of the ecclesiastical instruction about political life is a starting point for addressing the issue of political dialogue in relation to social communication and information. An integral understanding of the principle of subsidiarity is a central democratic rule which, on the one hand, points to the ministerial character of political authority and, on the other hand, to the importance of the broad political participation of civil society in the realization of the common good. The synthesis of the guidelines in the conclusion of the article emphasizes the importance of Christian engagement in politics