Zagreb, April 28, 2001 (IKA) — The Croatian bishops assembled in Zagreb at the Twenty-Third Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, April 24 to 26, analyzed pastoral tasks issuing from the Great Jubilee. There was discussion on catechesis in schools and parishes, the Eucharist, the sacrament of reconciliation, pastoral work with families, Caritas, pastoral work with spiritual callings, promotion of the culture of life, cooperation between the laity and the Church, efforts in ecumenicism, religious and prayer movements, the role of the media in evangelization, and building the Croatian society. A national pastoral plan will be prepared that will elaborate pastoral moments of general interest for the entire Church in Croatia. The bishops also sent an official request to Pope John Paul II, asking the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints to consider the documentation submitted on the servants of God Sister Marija of the Crucified Jesus Petković and Ivan Merz as soon as possible.
There was also mention of the further revision of the document on the permanent diaconate, which is supposed to be completed prior to the autumn session of the CCB. A special public statement was prepared and issued on the contemporary challenges facing Croatian society. Initial discussion was held at this session about a document on the prospects for peace in the Croatian territory, with attention to the recent war and its impact upon Croatian society. Objections were accepted on the Legal Position of the Religious Communities Act, which will be submitted to the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Relations with Religious Communities. The bishops also inspected and approved several liturgical texts. At the session, approval was granted for the establishment of the Croatian Catholic Biblical Society. There was also discussion on the need for pastoral work in prisons and the holding of symposiums in Zagreb and Rome in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the death of Cardinal Franjo Šeper, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In addition, new members were appointed to commissions, committees and services in various Church and public institutions.