Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica: interview for croatian catholic weekly magazine "Glas Koncila"
Zagreb (IKA )
Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica for the Croatian Catholic weekly magazine "Glas Koncila"
Zagreb, 23. 2. 1996. (IKA) – “I think the main problem is in the unclear political standpoint of the offcial political representatives concerning our people. We know what the Holy See suggests, but we don#!t know what Croatian political representatives want and think. I wish to say loud: “Fellows, we are not pawns in your hands! Do not manipulate with us! You shall sin against the man! You shall come in front of God#!s face one day, too!”, said Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica for the last issue of Croatian Catholic weekly magazine “Glas Koncila”, after he visited Banja Luka believers – refugees temporary accommodated in Croatia. Bishop Komarica said also that he intends to talk with Croatian politicians, too, about the difficulties his persecuted believers are confronted with: “Certainly, I want to discuss that subject with them. I see that they are engaged with other important things and business, but I hope that I shall meet the representatives of the highest authorities of Croatia already today. I shall put them these questions: What will happen to those persecuted from Banja Luka region who are in Croatia now? What is with those who had stayed in Banja Luka region? And, what is with those who are in Bihaæ where Muslims are in majority and where serious difficulties are starting for Croats Catholics? Each group has different problems of its own, And Croatian politicians, I consider, have to know about them. I think that Croatian politicians have to know to determine the diagnosis so they could implement the adequate therapy.” Describing the circumstances in his diocese after Dayton peace agreements subscription, bishop Komarica emphasized that after the subscription of the agreement it is realistic to expect of things to get better and everybody to start to do his own duty. “Therefore, I shall raise my voice the most determined way and I shall come to politicians with question: What will happened to us? Are you serious persons? I think about you as the most serious ones and I expect from you to know what had you signed and how you will carry it out”, said bishop and added that his impression is “that for what was said and signed, it seems that there are no intentions to become true”. “We Catholics Croats as aborigines, and as a constitutive nation, and from the historical point of view, the most ancient nation at Bosnia and Herzegovina territory, of what we have not to be shame of, we are ready to offer a constructive solution for our joined future to the others, letting them to be domicile there, too. But we can not accept the fact that we could never return to our homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, said Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica in his interview to “Glas Koncila”.