July 28, 2008
ZAGREB (ANS) - The parliament of the predominantly Catholic country of Croatia is urging its citizens to reclaim Sunday as a day for celebrating the Eucharist, for family, and for rest.
This was revealed in a story by Thaddeus M. Baklinski and posted on http://www.lifesitenews.com/
Writing on July 16, Baklinski said, “The Croatian parliament passed a law yesterday requiring most businesses to close on Sundays. The law does, however, allow Sunday shopping during the summer tourist season and Christmas holidays.
“The new law also allows stores in hospitals as well as those in gas, bus and train stations to open on Sundays year-round. Bakeries, newsstands and flower shops are also exempt from the ban.”
He went on to say, “Most post-communist countries, including Croatia, have experienced problems transitioning from the oppression of Marxist ideology, which proclaimed there is no God and therefore no need for any day for religious observance or rest, to a free market economy with a fascination with and craving for all things Western.
“Croatia, however, is now in a more stable political and economic situation where its people can reaffirm their centuries-old traditions of family and faith and experience a Renaissance of their culture. The banning of Sunday shopping is a significant step in that direction.
“The benefits of not making Sunday just an extension of Saturday have been well documented.”
For instance, he added, a report entitled “The Church vs. the Mall: What Happens When Religion Faces Increased Secular Competition?” that was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2006, indicated that approval of Sunday shopping triggered an increase in drug and alcohol use among otherwise faithful churchgoers. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/sep/06091506.html)
Baklinski said that Catholic Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Arizona, observed in 2005 that “the world has suffered with the loss of the religious observance of Sunday as a day of rest,” and reflected that the day which used to be reserved for religious and family togetherness, has turned into “an extension of Saturday,” filled with errands invariably including shopping.
Bishop Olmsted said, “Keep the Lord's day holy…refrain from all shopping and enjoy Sunday as a day of rest, a day of leisure, a day for family, a day for celebrating the Eucharist.” (Phoenix Bishop says “No Sunday Shopping” - A Wedge Issue in the Culture Wars: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jul/05071803.html)
He concluded by saying that Dr. Michael Schluter, Director of Keep Sunday Special, a UK lobby group dedicated to promoting a ban on Sunday shopping in Britain, said, “People are crying out for a break and a release from the pressure of working each day of the week, they want family time back, they want their Sunday back and are simply not interested in any more shopping.
“We've had thirteen years of Sunday trading and yet still two thirds of people say Sunday should be a different day to the rest of the week, and almost a third (31%) of people say that they never shop in large shops or supermarkets at all on Sundays. Sunday has been stolen from people and they want to get it back - above all they want a break.”
“Think too about the potential environmental benefits through saving energy and fewer journeys if large shops were shut,” Dr. Schluter said.
Copyright 2008 ASSIST News Service
