RELIGIOUS WEEKLY, LABOUR MINISTER IN DISPUTE

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - "The Greatest Offence by the Church" is the headline of an unsigned commentary in the latest issue of the Catholic weekly "Glas Koncila", which attacks the Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Davorko Vidovic, for his statements at a press conference on November 12. The commentary describes Vidovic as "an orthodox, communist, anti- theistic and anti-Church ideologist" whose "ideological speech" has caused "consternation", and demands that Vidovic apologise. "Glas Koncila" also referred to a statement by Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic of November 15 about the Croatian Bishops' Conference's assessment that the social situation in Croatia was difficult. Cacic said the "bishops have inappropriately entered an area which is not theirs and received an answer (from the government) which they could have expected." "Glas Koncila" believes the minister "in this way revealed his ideological affiliation with the vulgar Marxist and communist rubbish bin of history." "Didn't the Croatian nation deserve to have ministers who would have an at least elementary knowledge about the subjects and characteristics of plural society, who would know that the Catholic Church is separated from the state, but not from society?", the article in "Glas Koncila", dated November 25, read. In today's statement to the press, Minister Vidovic said: "I challenged the Croatian Bishops' Conference statement about the deteriorating social situation with figures. I challenged unsubstantiated claims with facts, presenting to the public the real structure of our 'sins'. If somebody thinks they can contest the... facts, let them do so. It will be better than to label me with ugly epithets only because I presented them." Among other things, the minister asserted the incumbent government was "socially sensitive", as indicated by figures on social spending and the state budget for 2002. He added the government had never brought into question any provision of Croatia's agreements with the Holy See, based on which all taxpayers, regardless of their faith, allocate a portion of their money for the needs of the Church. "At my press conference, in rebuttal to unfounded claims that this government was socially insensitive, I incidentally mentioned that welfare transfers from the budget could be increased, but at the expense of somebody else. We have never received an offer from the Church that it be from the part of the budget intended for them," Vidovic stressed. He also said the Church did not respond to an invitation for dialogue on the social policy, and that the dialogue to date referred only to the restitution of Church property. The minister said the government was ready to return all property which once belonged to the Church, regardless of the fact that in the meantime a significant amount of taxpayers' money had been invested in it. Referring to some orphanages and homes for mentally-challenged people, Vidovic said the government was against a "hurried and unconditional" restitution, which it views as pressure, but for said institutions to continue with their present activities, which is caring for those in need, and guarantees that current employees will not lose their jobs, Vidovic said. (hina) np sb