Church protests, Croatia dumps yoga

July 19, 2003

AP[ THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003 11:37:17 PM ]

ZAGREB: Croatia's education ministry has withdrawn its recommendation

that teachers take yoga classes after the Roman Catholic Church

accused it of trying to sneak Hinduism into schools.

Instead, deputy education minister Ivan Vavra said, schools will get

a two-page statement explaining in detail that yoga classes will be

organised strictly in teachers' spare time and focused on exercises

only, with no students to receive instruction.

Vavra acknowledged that the move was triggered by the strong reaction

of the church in this country of 4.5 million people, 80 per cent of

whom consider themselves Catholics. He insisted, however, that

yoga "was never meant to be introduced into the schools, now or in

the near future."

On Monday, Croatia's bishops issued a fierce protest of the planned

yoga classes, calling it "unacceptable to introduce into the schools

topics that are in contradiction with the generally accepted system

of values and the European cultural tradition."

"Hindu religious practice will be brought into the schools under the

guise of exercises," the bishops said. Teachers interested in yoga

can certainly pursue it, they said, "but not in schools."

The Croatia-based group Yoga in Daily Life qualified along with

dozens of other non-governmental groups for state funds for its

programme for teachers. It is to receive 50,000 kuna ($8,000) for six

weekend trainings starting in September.

The idea was to help teachers improve their physical condition and

relax, said Vedrana Josipovic, the group's leader. She refused to

comment on the bishops' reaction.

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Then don't you think Church should stop "exportingtopics that are

in contradiction with the generally accepted system of values and the

Asian and African cultural tradition" by the same standards? But for

the church obviously its double standards.

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