ZAGREB, Nov 13 (Hina) - The secretariat of the Croatian Bishops' Conference has refuted a press article alleging that Catholic bishops sent a request to the government from their gathering last month for "urgent and unconditional
restitution" of some 40 buildings to the Catholic Church.
ZAGREB, Nov 13 (Hina) - The secretariat of the Croatian Bishops'
Conference has refuted a press article alleging that Catholic
bishops sent a request to the government from their gathering last
month for "urgent and unconditional restitution" of some 40
buildings to the Catholic Church. #L#
"The allegation (by the daily) is not true. The Croatian bishops
sent no letter to the government from their last plenary session on
Hvar," reads a press release issued by the secretariat on
Thursday.
According to the press release, regarding the issue of the
restitution of the Church property, nationalised during the
Yugoslav Communist rule, it is well known that there are the
Croatian government's commitments and obligations in compliance
with an agreement on economic issues which Zagreb and the Holy See
signed.
A joint commission has been set up to implement the international
agreement, and this body is conducting negotiations on certain
issues, the press release said.
"We believe that it is morally unacceptable to try to manipulate
with the said agreement and Croatian bishops through untrue claims
in the run-up to the elections," the secretariat of the bishops'
conference's said.
On 11 November, the Jutarnji List daily ran articles on the front
and third page on "the dispute with the Church", and reported that
the bishops, who convened at their plenary session on Hvar last
month, again sent the request to the government for "urgent and
unconditional restitution" of some 40 buildings and facilities all
over the country.
(hina) ms sb