Croatian priest Stjepan Horvat addressed the public via social media, drawing attention to changes in the behaviour of those present at funerals. According to his view, at these ceremonies it is increasingly possible to observe behavior that deviates from the usual silence and respect that such moments require.
As the main reason for this situation, the priest points to the frequent occurrence of conversations about everyday matters, even political topics, during the course of the ceremony itself. Indeed, in his view, at these gatherings people are increasingly discussing political developments, sports results and costs, rather than focusing on the moment of grief and remembering the deceased.
This change in the dynamics of the gathering, where private moments of grief turn into an opportunity for general social debate, represents a growing challenge to respecting the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of the deceased's family. Although such behavior is increasingly seen, the priest views it as a deviation from the respect that should be the central value of such gatherings.
