ZAGREB, Jan 21 (Hina) - The 43rd theological and pastoral week "Pluralism in the Church" was opened on Tuesday under the organisation of Zagreb's Catholic Faculty of Theology. The conference has gathered a large number of the clergy
from Croatia, Bosnia, Srijem, Backa and Boka Kotorska (the Bay of Kotor), as well as from Europe and the world.
ZAGREB, Jan 21 (Hina) - The 43rd theological and pastoral week
"Pluralism in the Church" was opened on Tuesday under the
organisation of Zagreb's Catholic Faculty of Theology. The
conference has gathered a large number of the clergy from Croatia,
Bosnia, Srijem, Backa and Boka Kotorska (the Bay of Kotor), as well
as from Europe and the world. #L#
In his speech opening the event, the president of the Croatian
Bishops' Conference, Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic, pointed to
the importance of pluralism in the life of the Catholic Church.
Pluralism is the present-day social and political reality together
with the essential notions of neutrality and tolerance, he said.
Bozanic said an inevitable question was how societal pluralism
affected church life.
The Church incorporates certain pluralism and variety per se,
particularly in the theological thought, spirituality, charisma
and church orders, said the Croatian Catholic Primate.
He believes that pluralism should mostly serve the encouragement of
dialogue so as to maintain and develop the church unity.
Participants of the conference were addressed by the dean of the
Faculty of Theology, Stjepan Baloban, Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia,
Giulio Einaudi, Sarajevo Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic and the
head of the Zagreb University, Helena Jasna Mencer.
A telegram was sent from the conference to Pope John Paul II
expressing hope that he would pay his third pastoral visit to
Croatia.
(hina) lml sb