The concept of the capacities of the Holy Father and their divine origin. The overview of the institutions of the Curia of Rome: competences, hierarchy subordination and cooperation. The tasks and duties of the State Secretariat as the highest Church management institution. How do the Holy Popes manage Church via these institutions in the world? The relation of Vatican and the Holy See. The concept of General Meetings. Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and national governments of states, representation of the Holy Pope by local churches. The duties of the Nuncio.
The article analyses the documents of the Church on the importance of participation of the Christians in the politics, and presents the analysis of the research into the believer attitude to the relation between faith and politics. The segregation of politics and morality and disregard of the Church authority prevail in the contemporary society. The believers lack knowledge about the teaching of the Church on the issues of politics and society. The teaching of the Church invites the congregation to assume the commitment of participation in the politics as one of the aspects of Christian vocation. Moral theology, Christian social doctrine and political ethics respond to the most important questions raised by people today.
The article analyses the documents of the Church on the importance of participation of the Christians in the politics, and presents the analysis of the research into the believer attitude to the relation between faith and politics. The segregation of politics and morality and disregard of the Church authority prevail in the contemporary society. The believers lack knowledge about the teaching of the Church on the issues of politics and society. The teaching of the Church invites the congregation to assume the commitment of participation in the politics as one of the aspects of Christian vocation. Moral theology, Christian social doctrine and political ethics respond to the most important questions raised by people today.
The article analyses the documents of the Church on the importance of participation of the Christians in the politics, and presents the analysis of the research into the believer attitude to the relation between faith and politics. The segregation of politics and morality and disregard of the Church authority prevail in the contemporary society. The believers lack knowledge about the teaching of the Church on the issues of politics and society. The teaching of the Church invites the congregation to assume the commitment of participation in the politics as one of the aspects of Christian vocation. Moral theology, Christian social doctrine and political ethics respond to the most important questions raised by people today.
In 1919–1953, the Evangelical Lutheran church of Kaunas Germans was an integral part of Kaunas community life. The Evangelical Lutheran church, being the dominant German religion, was especially important for local Germans. According to the census of 17 September 1923, 5759 Evangelical Lutherans lived in Kaunas County; they constituted approximately 3,01 percent of total Kaunas county residents. More than half of Evangelical Lutherans were of German nationality (i.e. 2975 people). The research revealed that in 1919–1953 Kaunas Evangelical Lutheran church was equally important for Lithuanians. In the 20th century, the number of Lithuanian Evangelical Lutherans considerably increased. The struggle for domination and leadership in the church caused conflicts between German and Lithuanian communities. The conflict between Lithuanian and German Evangelical Lutherans started after the First General Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the independent Lithuania. The two groups, based on nationalistic elements, strived for the domination in Evangelical Lutheran church. The conflict prolonged until mid-1930s. During the conflict two separate Evangelical Lutheran parishes (Lithuanian and German) operated in Kaunas. The Lithuanian Government issued a legal act joining the parishes. At the beginning it was hard for both groups to cooperate jointly, but in 1936–1939 the cooperation can be assessed as close. Though, this period was quite short, it gave nevertheless a lot of benefits for spiritual and material condition of the parish. After the repatriation in Spring 1941, Kaunas Evangelical Lutheran parish was operational for more than a decade, but on 29 March 1953 Soviet government finally shut down the parish.
In 1919–1953, the Evangelical Lutheran church of Kaunas Germans was an integral part of Kaunas community life. The Evangelical Lutheran church, being the dominant German religion, was especially important for local Germans. According to the census of 17 September 1923, 5759 Evangelical Lutherans lived in Kaunas County; they constituted approximately 3,01 percent of total Kaunas county residents. More than half of Evangelical Lutherans were of German nationality (i.e. 2975 people). The research revealed that in 1919–1953 Kaunas Evangelical Lutheran church was equally important for Lithuanians. In the 20th century, the number of Lithuanian Evangelical Lutherans considerably increased. The struggle for domination and leadership in the church caused conflicts between German and Lithuanian communities. The conflict between Lithuanian and German Evangelical Lutherans started after the First General Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the independent Lithuania. The two groups, based on nationalistic elements, strived for the domination in Evangelical Lutheran church. The conflict prolonged until mid-1930s. During the conflict two separate Evangelical Lutheran parishes (Lithuanian and German) operated in Kaunas. The Lithuanian Government issued a legal act joining the parishes. At the beginning it was hard for both groups to cooperate jointly, but in 1936–1939 the cooperation can be assessed as close. Though, this period was quite short, it gave nevertheless a lot of benefits for spiritual and material condition of the parish. After the repatriation in Spring 1941, Kaunas Evangelical Lutheran parish was operational for more than a decade, but on 29 March 1953 Soviet government finally shut down the parish.
In 1919–1953, the Evangelical Lutheran church of Kaunas Germans was an integral part of Kaunas community life. The Evangelical Lutheran church, being the dominant German religion, was especially important for local Germans. According to the census of 17 September 1923, 5759 Evangelical Lutherans lived in Kaunas County; they constituted approximately 3,01 percent of total Kaunas county residents. More than half of Evangelical Lutherans were of German nationality (i.e. 2975 people). The research revealed that in 1919–1953 Kaunas Evangelical Lutheran church was equally important for Lithuanians. In the 20th century, the number of Lithuanian Evangelical Lutherans considerably increased. The struggle for domination and leadership in the church caused conflicts between German and Lithuanian communities. The conflict between Lithuanian and German Evangelical Lutherans started after the First General Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the independent Lithuania. The two groups, based on nationalistic elements, strived for the domination in Evangelical Lutheran church. The conflict prolonged until mid-1930s. During the conflict two separate Evangelical Lutheran parishes (Lithuanian and German) operated in Kaunas. The Lithuanian Government issued a legal act joining the parishes. At the beginning it was hard for both groups to cooperate jointly, but in 1936–1939 the cooperation can be assessed as close. Though, this period was quite short, it gave nevertheless a lot of benefits for spiritual and material condition of the parish. After the repatriation in Spring 1941, Kaunas Evangelical Lutheran parish was operational for more than a decade, but on 29 March 1953 Soviet government finally shut down the parish.
125 years ago, the mission of the Lithuanian literary, political, and scientific newspaper Varpas (The Bell) published under the Czarist occupation was to interpret the issues of the national life, to raise the nation's spirit, and to awaken and strengthen the national self-consciousness. Among other issues, the publishers devoted great attention to a fundamental human need, i.e. the maintenance of identity and its relationship to faith (Catholicism). Religion and language were interpreted as closely related phenomena and as the nation's values of utmost significance for the maintenance of the national identity. Religion, language, and customs were so closely related that the destruction of one could undermine the fundaments of the other elements. People who had learnt their native language from their mothers, and later had disowned it, could have also questioned another legacy of the mother, i.e. faith. As demonstrated in the paper, the henchmen of the czarist government tended to simultaneously destroy both Catholicism and Lithuanianness in different ways, especially during the reign of Mikhail Muravjov. The authors of Varpas considered the Orthodox church to be the main factor of Lithuanians' assimilation which tried to attract Lithuanians in different ways; another important factor of influence was school which taught children different subjects, even religious studies, in a non-native language. In the implementation of that kind of Muravjov's strategy, some clergy collaborated with the invaders.
125 years ago, the mission of the Lithuanian literary, political, and scientific newspaper Varpas (The Bell) published under the Czarist occupation was to interpret the issues of the national life, to raise the nation's spirit, and to awaken and strengthen the national self-consciousness. Among other issues, the publishers devoted great attention to a fundamental human need, i.e. the maintenance of identity and its relationship to faith (Catholicism). Religion and language were interpreted as closely related phenomena and as the nation's values of utmost significance for the maintenance of the national identity. Religion, language, and customs were so closely related that the destruction of one could undermine the fundaments of the other elements. People who had learnt their native language from their mothers, and later had disowned it, could have also questioned another legacy of the mother, i.e. faith. As demonstrated in the paper, the henchmen of the czarist government tended to simultaneously destroy both Catholicism and Lithuanianness in different ways, especially during the reign of Mikhail Muravjov. The authors of Varpas considered the Orthodox church to be the main factor of Lithuanians' assimilation which tried to attract Lithuanians in different ways; another important factor of influence was school which taught children different subjects, even religious studies, in a non-native language. In the implementation of that kind of Muravjov's strategy, some clergy collaborated with the invaders.
Religion, ethics and philosophies of life represent a delicate area where people can be oriented in a particular direction, without the possibility to react in a critic way. Today, people in democratic societies are extremely sensitive as regards the influence of churches, religions, life visions. Many adults, particularly young adults, recognize the conditioning rituals and indoctrinations strategies easily as contradictory to the intentions proclaimed officially. Many questions of personal values and ethics inevitability arise for individuals in the academic community. The Church on campus facilitates the formation of Christian conscience in its members so that they could make decisions based on gospel values and, thereby, resist moral relativism. Campus ministry is an expression of Church's special desire to be present to all who are involved in higher education. The Church on campus is challenged to be a sign of unity and living reminder of the essential interdependence and solidarity of all people.
Religion, ethics and philosophies of life represent a delicate area where people can be oriented in a particular direction, without the possibility to react in a critic way. Today, people in democratic societies are extremely sensitive as regards the influence of churches, religions, life visions. Many adults, particularly young adults, recognize the conditioning rituals and indoctrinations strategies easily as contradictory to the intentions proclaimed officially. Many questions of personal values and ethics inevitability arise for individuals in the academic community. The Church on campus facilitates the formation of Christian conscience in its members so that they could make decisions based on gospel values and, thereby, resist moral relativism. Campus ministry is an expression of Church's special desire to be present to all who are involved in higher education. The Church on campus is challenged to be a sign of unity and living reminder of the essential interdependence and solidarity of all people.
Religion, ethics and philosophies of life represent a delicate area where people can be oriented in a particular direction, without the possibility to react in a critic way. Today, people in democratic societies are extremely sensitive as regards the influence of churches, religions, life visions. Many adults, particularly young adults, recognize the conditioning rituals and indoctrinations strategies easily as contradictory to the intentions proclaimed officially. Many questions of personal values and ethics inevitability arise for individuals in the academic community. The Church on campus facilitates the formation of Christian conscience in its members so that they could make decisions based on gospel values and, thereby, resist moral relativism. Campus ministry is an expression of Church's special desire to be present to all who are involved in higher education. The Church on campus is challenged to be a sign of unity and living reminder of the essential interdependence and solidarity of all people.
The Public Opinion Research Centre 'Vilmorus' has conducted 226 representative surveys on trust in institutions in the period of 1998–2018. Trust in the Parliament, Government, political parties, banks, healthcare system, education system, police, church and other institutions was investigated. The analysis of the dynamics of trust/distrust allows us to reveal at least four factors influencing the results. Long-term factors are general positive (or negative) impacts of economic/social/political trends in the society. The growth of trust is typical for the police and defence systems in Lithuania. The church, education system and media decreased trust in this period. Other institutions do not have one direction of dynamics because of ad hoc events or political cycle influence. Ad hoc influences are negative, as a rule: bankruptcy of a bank, the economic crisis, a wrong behaviour of representatives of the institutions, etc. The following institutions were influenced by ad hoc events and lost 10 percent points of trust at least: banks, President, social insurance, church, police and army. The influence of a political cycle is noticeable for the Parliament, Government and President institutions before and after elections. Some seasonal monthly influences (the Easter period for church or the exams period for the education system, for example) are statistically significant but very small (socially insignificant). Different aspects of the dynamics of trust in the institutions need different methodological approach in the analysis of the empirical data.
The Public Opinion Research Centre 'Vilmorus' has conducted 226 representative surveys on trust in institutions in the period of 1998–2018. Trust in the Parliament, Government, political parties, banks, healthcare system, education system, police, church and other institutions was investigated. The analysis of the dynamics of trust/distrust allows us to reveal at least four factors influencing the results. Long-term factors are general positive (or negative) impacts of economic/social/political trends in the society. The growth of trust is typical for the police and defence systems in Lithuania. The church, education system and media decreased trust in this period. Other institutions do not have one direction of dynamics because of ad hoc events or political cycle influence. Ad hoc influences are negative, as a rule: bankruptcy of a bank, the economic crisis, a wrong behaviour of representatives of the institutions, etc. The following institutions were influenced by ad hoc events and lost 10 percent points of trust at least: banks, President, social insurance, church, police and army. The influence of a political cycle is noticeable for the Parliament, Government and President institutions before and after elections. Some seasonal monthly influences (the Easter period for church or the exams period for the education system, for example) are statistically significant but very small (socially insignificant). Different aspects of the dynamics of trust in the institutions need different methodological approach in the analysis of the empirical data.
The Public Opinion Research Centre 'Vilmorus' has conducted 226 representative surveys on trust in institutions in the period of 1998–2018. Trust in the Parliament, Government, political parties, banks, healthcare system, education system, police, church and other institutions was investigated. The analysis of the dynamics of trust/distrust allows us to reveal at least four factors influencing the results. Long-term factors are general positive (or negative) impacts of economic/social/political trends in the society. The growth of trust is typical for the police and defence systems in Lithuania. The church, education system and media decreased trust in this period. Other institutions do not have one direction of dynamics because of ad hoc events or political cycle influence. Ad hoc influences are negative, as a rule: bankruptcy of a bank, the economic crisis, a wrong behaviour of representatives of the institutions, etc. The following institutions were influenced by ad hoc events and lost 10 percent points of trust at least: banks, President, social insurance, church, police and army. The influence of a political cycle is noticeable for the Parliament, Government and President institutions before and after elections. Some seasonal monthly influences (the Easter period for church or the exams period for the education system, for example) are statistically significant but very small (socially insignificant). Different aspects of the dynamics of trust in the institutions need different methodological approach in the analysis of the empirical data.
