CATHOLIC AND SERB ORTHODOX CHURCH COMMISSIONS HOLD SESSION

ZAGREB, Nov 18 (Hina) - Commissions for dialogue of the Croatian Bishops' Conference and the Serb Orthodox Church's Bishops' Forum held a session in Zagreb on Wednesday. The Croatian Bishops' Conference Secretariat said the "talks held in an atmosphere of fraternal openness and responsibility related to open issues and concrete, pastoral, spiritual and existential problems of priesthood and the faithful of the two Christian churches, Catholic and Orthodox, and of the two neighbouring peoples, Croats and Serbs". Especially accentuated was the need and rights of all displaced, exiled persons and refugees, including the priesthood, to return to their own homelands and homes, with respect for the right to life, security, personal freedom and property, as well as human dignity. The commissions advocated the material reconstruction of churches and relating buildings. Members of the commissions agreed that they would meet again in the near future, and, in line with the demands of time and spiritual needs of the faithfuls, would maintain long-term contact and mutual dialogue, the secretariat said. Representatives of the Serb Orthodox Church were received by the chairman of the Croatian State Commission for relations with Religious Communities, Jure Radic. The commissions of the two churches met for the first time in Switzerland's town of St. Gallem in January of 1992. (hina) lml mm