On the Anniversary of the Slovenian Bishop’s Conference

Ljubljana, 26.2.2008  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, met with the members of the Slovenian Bishop’s Conference at the working lunch on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Slovenian Bishop’s Conference.

In his address President Türk pointed out that the principle of secularity, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, forms the basis for an open dialogue between the Church and the State. In the period of fast development of Slovenian society, the Catholic Church responds to several social problems; according to the President, its role as an institution of the civil society in maintaining and respecting ethical values is of particular importance. Already during education process, knowledge of different religions and religious beliefs may be a good basis for the necessary cohesion in the society, emphasised the President.

President of the Slovenian Bishop’s Conference, the Archbishop of Ljubljana and Slovenian Metropolitan Msgr. Alojz Uran, extended his thanks to the President for the invitation, and expressed his belief that family and education process lay the groundwork for the formation of values both in individuals as well as in the society. Msgr Uran pointed out that the Church believes this role to be very important and added that pupils are generally enabled to attend religious education even though it is not carried out within the framework of school programmes.

The Bishop of Koper, Msgr Metod Pirih, pointed out certain examples of good co-operation between the Church and local communities in restoration of sacral buildings. At the same time he called attention to the decreasing number of children in certain areas and the changed demographic picture in the countryside.

The President of the Republic further pointed out the importance of Trubar’s Year, which not only proves the centuries long cultural heritage and national identity of the Slovenes, but also offers an opportunity that the personality and work of Primo¾ Trubar be presented by the Catholic Church in Slovenia. “I believe we will have an ample opportunity for dialogue, for re-consideration of our history and the experience gathered in the course of that history, and what message these experiences convey to us today”, pointed out the President. President of the Slovenian Bishop’s Conference Msgr Uran announced a special symposium to be dedicated to that purpose.

At the end of the meeting, Dr Danilo Türk expressed his wish that the dialogue in the present form be continued in the future, since co-operation between the State and the Catholic Church is important for the development of our society. He also stressed the need of a dialogue on practical matters encountered by the Roman-Catholic Church in Slovenia.