Mostar, February 26, 1999 (IKA/KTA) – The fifteenth regular session of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops was held on February 23 and 24 in Mostar. The participants were Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić of Sarajevo, president of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops; Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka, Bishop Ratko Perić of Mostar-Duvno and Auxiliary Bishop Pero Sudar of Sarajevo. Attending as guests were Auxiliary Bishop Marin Barišić of Split-Makarska, representing the Croatian Conference of Bishops, and Bishop Ilija Janjić of Kotor, representing the Yugoslav Conference of Bishops. The session was also attended by the chargé d#!affaires ad interim of the Apostolic Nunciature in Sarajevo, Msgr. Roberto Cassari. At the beginning of the session, in the presence of journalists, the president of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops, Cardinal Puljić, spoke about the activities of the Catholic Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina, emphasizing that “it is necessary to establish a legal basis for the activity of the Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina.” In response to questions concerning the return of confiscated Church property in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cardinal Puljić noted that the Catholic Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina has a very difficult existence with modest financial means and is dependent upon its benefactors. He spoke in favor of the Church “developing its operations with its own funds.” At the end of the first day of the session, February 23, a Mass was celebrated in the hall next to the Mostar Cathedral, led by Cardinal Puljić together with the bishops and priests.
At the conclusion of the session on February 24, the Secretariat of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops issued a public statement. The statement noted that at the beginning of the session, the bishops discussed their recent visit “ad limina” to the Vatican, where they “heard words of encouragement for the Catholic faithful with their Shepherds to persevere in bearing witness to the truth and justice in all dioceses.” The members of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops also listened to a presentation by the dean of the Law School of Mostar, Prof. Ljubomir Zovko, regarding proposed laws concerning religious communities. According to the statement, on the basis of this presentation “it is obvious that there are various approaches to this matter in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which from a legal standpoint is in chaos. A Constitution and just laws, that protect human rights and guarantee civil freedoms, including religious freedom, are prerequisites for the desired contract with the Holy See that would regulate the legal relations of the Church in this country.” A bill proposal regulating the return of property was considered. Regarding this proposal, the bishops expressed their astonishment at the numerous attempts by certain politicians in connection with its interpretation and passage. Therefore, as noted in the statement, the bishops have decided to urge the authorized institutions to respect basic justice concerning property ownership, regardless of the period when confiscation occurred and regardless of the religious or national community or individual concerned. The bishops also commented upon the statement signed in Mostar by the General Vicar of the Order of the Friars Minor, Fra Stephan Ottenbreit of Rome, and Bishop Ratko Perić, noting that this statement demonstrates the determination of the Holy See and the Franciscan Order to arrive at a definitive resolution of the painful situation concerning the transfer of parishes as stipulated in the 1975 Papal decree Romanis Pontificibus. In this connection, the bishops urge the priests, men and women religious, and other faithful in the Mostar-Duvno Diocese to retain their Catholic dignity, complete devotion and obedience to the Holy Father. In reference to the joint meeting between the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops held in Zagreb last month, the bishops assessed such meetings where common concerns are discussed as useful and necessary. It has come to the attention of the members of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops that leaflets containing derogatory material about the Catholic faith and doctrines are appearing with increasing frequency, especially in some parts of central Bosnia.