Zagreb, November 13, 2001 (IKA) — A public message issued by the Croatian bishops in which they sharply criticize the ineffectiveness of the Government in solving social problems has provoked divided reactions among the public and a sharp response from the Government.
The bishops specifically criticized the high rate of unemployment, low wages and the revocation or reduction of welfare benefits to various groups of citizens. In the bishops’ opinion, this all leads to a sense of mistrust in the country and its institutions, and the current Government made “unrealistic promises” prior to the 2000 elections which it is not keeping now. The groups particularly at risk are pensioners, new mothers and Croatian veterans. Young people are increasingly leaving the country and in such a situation the “demographic problems augur catastrophe.” The bishops also complained about the lack of dialogue with the authorities, which was confirmed by the archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Bozanić, on the occasion of the presentation of the message.
The Government reacted to the bishops’ message by nervously calling it “superficial and lacking objectivity,” expressing concern due to “the similarity of the positions of the Bishops’ Conference with those of some of the opposition parties and radical political groups.” The Government also complained that “the tone of the message from the Bishops’ Conference does not leave too much room for dialogue.” Prime Minister Ivica Račan said of the statements by the Bishops’ Conference that they are “not happy,” and that the Government had offered the Church dialogue and will continue to do so in the future. He furthermore said that the Government will respect the obligations toward the Church ensuing from the four contracts that it signed with the Holy See, which primarily concern the issuing of approximately 41 million DM annually from the Government budget for the useful and charitable activities of the Church.
Zlatko Tomčić, one of the leaders of the five-party ruling coalition, the president of the Croatian Peasants’ party and president of the Croatian Parliament, did not agree with the Government’s assessments and reactions, which led to conflict within the coalition. Some other coalition partners also did not assess the Government’s reaction as positive, and the heads of the opposition parties supported the positions of the bishops. Commenting on the bishops’ message, the minister of labor and social welfare, Davorko Vidović, called it without foundation and superficial. He proposed that the Church refuse funds from the Government budget in the name of social welfare and not seek the return of the buildings and property being used for public purposes. It is interesting that the president of the Republic, Stjepan Mesić, stated that the Government solved social problems too slowly.
Among the Croatian public, these positions are still at the center of attention and remind many of the situation when Archbishop Bozanić accused the former Government of the “sinful structures,” which had considerable reverberations on the political scene. Observers consider this message to be along the same lines.