BISHOPS END THREE-DAY CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Bishops Conference (HBK) ended a three-day conference in Zagreb on Thursday. The press was briefed about the results by Split-Makarska archbishop Marin Barisic and Zadar archbishop and HNB vice president Ivan Prendja. Speaking about the state of Croatian society, which was one of the topics of the conference, archbishop Barisic said a society cannot be divided into the left and the right and that its building cannot start with the arrival of a new government. He advocated improving communication between the Church and the government, saying it would help to overcome the current crisis. Archbishop Barisic called on the faithful to turn up in big numbers at upcoming local elections and to vote according to their conscience. The bishops oppose the use of the altar for political goals, he said when asked about the case of a Dalmatian priest. Barisic said the bishops were well informed about the situation in neighbouring Bosnia. He asserted the international community had not always acted as teacher and witness to democracy. The bishops advocate dialogue between the international community and the Bosnian Croat people, he said. The HBK conference also tackled the draft of a document on the Homeland Defence War, concluding Croatia's early 1990s war of independence should be subjected to an integral analysis. (hina) ha sb