AGREEMENT WITH VATICAN HAS NOT PLACED CHURCH AS PRIVILEGE -

( Editorial: --> 8096 ) SIBENIK, Oct 13 (Hina) - Zagreb Archbishop Monsignor Josip Bozanic said on Tuesday that the economic agreement signed between Croatia and the Holy See has not placed privilege on the Church in relation to the citizens and other religious communities in Croatia. Speaking at a news conference called on the occasion of the 17th plenary session of the Croatian Bishops' Conference taking place in the Croatian coastal town of Sibenik from October 12 to 14, Bozanic said that through the agreement, the Church wished to expedite the return of property confiscated from it by communist authorities. Bozanic added that the Church would continue its self-financing, not withstanding the State help it would receive in line with the agreement. The main resources for the Church will continue to come from donations by the faithful. However, the agreement stipulates a certain amount of assistance set aside from the government budget. The help amounts to two average gross salaries per parish, and only if the parish numbers more than 1,000 people in a village, 3,000 in a town. As regards the return of Church property, the agreement regulates the return, compensation and trade of property, but within the framework of the Croatian Law on the return of property taken during the Yugoslav communist rule. With the agreement, the Church wishes to expedite the process, and help others by expediting the process of return of their property. Within six months, a joint Church and State commission will make a list of Church property which can be returned, with due dates for their return. Another list will be made up containing property which has to be compensated, while separate talks will be held regarding property which cannot be returned to the Church, but has to be replaced with property interesting to the Church, Bozanic said. (hina) lml jn 131856 MET oct 98