ZAGREB ARCHBISHOP URGES JOINT ACTION AGAINST CORRUPTION

ZAGREB, June 25 (Hina) - Zagreb Archbishop and President of the Croatian Bishops' Conference Msgr. Josip Bozanic on Tuesday morning said mass on the occasion of Statehood Day. #L# Present at the service were top Croatian officials, President Stjepan Mesic, Premier Ivica Racan, the parliament's head, Zlatko Tomcic, other senior officials and eminent religious dignitaries. The Catholic Church among the Croatian people and in particular in the state of Croatia, where 87.8 percent of the population declares to be Catholics according to the 2001 census, feels that it is its special duty to promote public good, the Archbishop said during his sermon. The Bible is not restricted to exposing personal sins but also unveils the social evil of corruption. As regards corruption, we are faced with the painful reality known in our Croatian society. Corruption creates a new network, new ties and new alliances going beyond various party and other affiliations, the dignitary said. According to statistics, Croatia is among high-placed countries regarding the problem of corruption, Bozanic warned. We do not nurture Utopian ideas about having a perfect society. We only insist on the permanent and tireless struggle in detecting and countering the roots of corruption as to limit its occurrence and ensure a sound social life, the Archbishop said. He warned that it might be detrimental if one only criticises the phenomenon without any concrete action. Bozanic appealed on the entire society to use joint strength in the fight against corruption. All of us together should address it with a determined ethic view, he explained, adding that to cope with and oppose corruption is a Christian duty. As regards political corruption, it is wrong to think that all politicians are corrupt as such an opinion can cause fatalism and passivity. There are individuals who sincerely do their best to fulfil their tasks, the Archbishop said. It is very important to use a cautious, serious and responsible vocabulary, he added. As regards morality in our society, it is necessary to detect and persecute forms which may assume the phenomenon of institutionalised vice. It is immoral to use public service for one's private goals, take illegal financial advantage from the public service, and to fail to dedicate one's strength and time necessary for doing public service. All such immoral acts can cause grave and complicated situations in society, he said. He cited the statement of Pope John Paul II that those who hold political functions should primarily be able to serve. (hina) ms