(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 22 - Croatia's social democrat
government and the Catholic Church have locked horns over plans
to introduce compulsory sex education into the school
curriculum.
Sex education classes would include discussions on gender
differences, homosexuality, masturbation as well as how to use
contraceptives.
"The government is trying to indoctrinate the new
generation with an ideology that goes against the Catholic
values that are typical of the majority of Croatians", a
statement from the Church said after the plan was presented.
The new syllabus teaches that masturbation is an
'integrated and normal part of sexuality', that homosexuality is
a 'natural variation', and that 'children should learn the
difference between sex and socially determined gender' - all
subjects that have irked the Church.
The battle got particularly ferocious at Christmas time
when Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb, branded the
government plan "a project that will bring the destruction of
man".
Thousands of anti government leaflets were later
distributed in churches and supermarkets. This was slammed by
government minister Jovanovic, " as a grave manipulation, full
of lies and the unacceptable interference of the Church in state
matters".
ßAccording to Globus, the Church has ordered around two thousand priests to organize meetings to encourage parents not to send their children to sex education classes. Press reports suggest that the Vatican could intervene in the unwelcome "culture war". Monsignor Alessandro D'Errico, who is based in Croatia, said that the Vatican asked that priests reign in their tone and assure the authorities in Zagreb that the Vatican hasn't intervened on behalf of the Croatian Catholic church. (ANSAmed).
ßAccording to Globus, the Church has ordered around two thousand priests to organize meetings to encourage parents not to send their children to sex education classes. Press reports suggest that the Vatican could intervene in the unwelcome "culture war". Monsignor Alessandro D'Errico, who is based in Croatia, said that the Vatican asked that priests reign in their tone and assure the authorities in Zagreb that the Vatican hasn't intervened on behalf of the Croatian Catholic church. (ANSAmed).
