Zagreb, (IKA) – A special plenary session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, at which the President of the CCB, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, presided, was held on June 11 and 12 at CCB headquarters in Zagreb, according to a statement issued by the Secretariat of the CCB. Welcoming those present, the President of the CCB spoke about events that had occurred since the last session. Then the Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Republic of Croatia, Msgr. Mauro Lalli, greeted those present.
During the working portion of the session, the bishops first considered proposals in connection with the celebration of the Year of Faith, which will officially start on October 11, 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. On that day, the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will also be commemorated.
The bishops accepted several proposals inspired by the guidelines of the apostolic letter Porta fidei issued by Pope Benedict XVI and the note with the pastoral guidelines for the Year of Faith from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
At the session, some details were agreed upon for a votive pilgrimage to Rome during the Year of Faith, to take place from November 5 to 9, 2012.
Following the Appeal from the plenary session of the CCB dated April 19, 2012, and the Statement by the Permanent Council of the CCB on the Proposed Legislation on Medically Assisted Fertilization dated May 11, 2012, the bishops re-emphasized that this legislation regulates an exceptionally important and sensitive area and its solutions will significantly determine the future of the family and nation. It was decided to have appropriate materials printed with the most important information on artificial in vitro fertilization, which will be distributed throughout Croatia.
The bishops discussed the violation of the contract between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia on cooperation in the area of education and culture by the attempt to reduce religious instruction to only the first two years of secondary medical school and other negative phenomena concerning the enrollment of children in religious education at school. In light of the beginning of the Year of Faith, the bishops of the CCB will invite parents to take more responsibility for the religious education of their children and not permit the violation of their parental rights regarding their children’s education according to their convictions.
The bishops also discussed the status of the Military Ordinariate in the light of the new regulations of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the organization of the Ministry of Defense.
Bishop Ante Ivas was chosen as the president of the Episcopal Commission of the CCB for the Liturgy. New members were also appointed to individual bodies of the CCB.
At the session, the bishops were informed about a meeting between the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej, which was attended by members of the Permanent Council of the CCB and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church.