BISHOP PERIC RECEIVES SUPPORT LETTERS FROM CHURCH DIGNITARIES

ZAGREB, Apr 6 (Hina) - The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, today voiced, in a letter to Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric, his "deep sorrow over grievous violence" done to Bishop Peric and his secretary Ante Luburic. The Bishop and his secretary were forcibly taken away from the Bishop's palace in Mostar by a group of irate believers last Sunday, during a rally staged to protest the Bishop's decision forbidding friars to preach in Mostar parishes. "This act will have harmful repercussions throughout our Church, and responsibility lays with the instigators and perpetrators of such an inhuman act," Cardinal Kuharic said. Bishop Peric received several similar letters from Church dignitaries. "I am particularly grieved over the fact that members of our Order in Herzegovina clearly disagree with the explicit demands of the Holy See and their vow of obedience to their General Minister," the Franciscan General Minister, Hermann Schalueck, wrote to Peric. The Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelisation of Peoples, Cardinal Josef Tomko, the Congregation's secretary, Josip Uhac, Sibenik Bishop, Srecko Badurina, and Sarajevo Assistant Bishop, Pero Sudar, also sent letters of solidarity. (hina) mm as 061520 MET apr 95