Zagreb (IKA) — The Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a public statement at its session held on December 10 in Zagreb regarding several current ecological questions in Croatia. At the beginning of the message, they emphasized that since every ecological crisis is the consequence of “moral disorder that issues from man’s falling away from God,” the Church has always considered efforts to promote a healthful environment to be an integral part of its evangelical proclamation.
They stated that Croatia, with all its historical misfortunes, has succeeded “within the large European family of nations and states” in preserving “a still healthful and human friendly place.” However, the bishops point out that it is necessary to know how and want to preserve this great gift and unfathomable wealth under today’s circumstances, “in order for us to be able to pass it on to the generations that are coming, and also offer it to the world that is increasingly yearning for clean air, clear water and unpolluted soil.”
The possibility of producing healthful food on soil unpolluted with pesticides, clear water and the Adriatic Sea are Croatia’s great wealth. It is precisely these natural beauties and unpolluted environment that are a deciding factor in the arrival of many tourists from all over the world, noted the bishops. Therefore, they consider it to be their duty to point out “the increasingly frequent phenomenon of an irresponsible and even harmful attitude toward the environment” and several concrete projects “that could signify a dangerous threat to the ecological balance in our homeland.”
The bishops follow with particular attention the public polemics on the possible transport of Russian oil via the Adriatic pipeline to the harbor of Omišalj and further via the Adriatic Sea to the world. They consider it questionable “to approach an agreement on this project before conducting a credible study of the impact on the environment that should determine the possible risks of pollution,” because experts find that due to the poor state of the pipeline there is great danger of pollution of the region with rich sources of potable water in Gorski Kotar.
The bishops point out that “the real possibility of accidents involving the ships for the transport of oil and the discharge of ballast water endanger the Adriatic Sea and tourism, on which the existence of many Croatian families depends.” They therefore express the opinion that talk about the benefits of the project is dubious when the risks are so high. They express surprise that no one wants to hear the voice of the local population about this matter.

The members of the Permanent Council specifically invite scientists working on projects that could be of danger to the environment to bear responsibility for the future and therefore act within the frameworks of the givens of their profession, because the eventual material benefits of their favorable studies for harmful projects “could result in inestimable damage, not only to the environment but to man.”
The bishops point out that “no one has the right to close his eyes before difficult questions that have a long range impact on the future” and urge all those responsible, from the government to the local authorities as well as associations of interested citizens, not to refrain from exercising their own responsibility for the general good and to do what is necessary in order to live in a healthful environment, “in the homeland that we shall in the future be able to call with pride Our Beautiful Homeland.” At the regular session of the Permanent Council held at the Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, presided over by the archbishop of Zagreb and president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, the vice president of the CCB, Archbishop Ivan Prenđa of Zadar, Archbishop Marin Barišić of Split-Makarska, Bishop Mile Bogović of Gospić-Senj and the general secretary of the CCB, Msgr. Vjekoslav Huzjak, were the participants.