ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK) on Saturday called for peace in a statement issued after its 26th plenary session, held between March 31 and April 3 under the chairmanship of the HBK president, Zagreb
Archbishop Josip Bozanic.
ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK) on
Saturday called for peace in a statement issued after its 26th
plenary session, held between March 31 and April 3 under the
chairmanship of the HBK president, Zagreb Archbishop Josip
Bozanic. #L#
Commenting on the dramatic events in the Middle East, particularly
Iraq, Bozanic conveyed the unanimous support of Croatian bishops
for the peace efforts of Pope John Paul II. He stressed that war
could not be a means of settling disputes among states as it caused
tragedies and numerous victims, as one could see from the example of
Iraq, the HBK said in the statement.
The bishops discussed the implementation of contracts signed
between the Holy See and Croatia and implementation documents.
It was stated that religious teaching in Croatian schools was very
well organised and that minor problems were swiftly removed.
However, there are problems in registering the legal persons of the
Catholic Church and defining their legal status, the bishops said.
They stated that the process of restitution of confiscated church
property was slow. Also discussed was the unresolved problem of
confiscated church books which are kept in state institutions.
The bishops agreed that the Church's contract with Croatian Radio
and Television had not been implemented and that there were some
open questions in a contract on economic issues.
Also discussed at the session was a report on preparations for the
pope's third visit to Croatia.
A commission of bishops in charge of the war-affected population
informed bishops about their efforts to alleviate the difficult
situation of Croatian families who still do not have adequate
accommodation and are facing eviction from temporary accommodation
facilities, reads the statement.
The bishops also discussed a report on organising spiritual
guidance in penitentiaries, prisons and correctional institutions
and announced the signing of an agreement with the government on
spiritual guidance in hospitals.
(hina) rml sb