CATHOLIC PRIMATE DISCUSSES RELATIONS BETWEEN CHURCH, STATE

ZAGREB, Dec 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Catholic Church head, Archbishop of Zagreb Josip Bozanic, at Thursday's news conference repeated the stances of his Christmas message dedicated to children, and spoke about topical issues pertaining to the Church and society. Bozanic believes the whole society needs initiatives focusing on progress, not social welfare. He stressed the Church did not wish to criticise or commend the authorities, but be "critical and open (to them). There can be no bargaining". Bozanic did not wish to comment on yesterday's resignation of the newly-elected Zagreb University head, Faculty of Theology professor Josip Ivancic. Asked how the money the Church received from the state budget was being spent (160 million kuna), Bozanic said a third went to charities, five to ten percent to the clergy and church officials, and the majority for the construction of churches and pastoral centres. There is also a great need for new churches, and a large part of the funds is being spent for war victims. As for criticism by some groups, for example, some Faculty of Philosophy professors, regarding Croatia's agreements with the Holy See which refer to education, Bozanic said these people behaved as if the agreements had not been signed. This points to the mentality we inherited from communism, these are people who do not understand that by signing the agreements with the Vatican, Croatia entered Europe, he said. As for pre-school religious education, regulated on the basis of the agreements, Bozanic commended the initiative, adding children should be taught that we are a pluralist society, that children should show their faith, not cover it up. (hina) lml sb