Agreement between the catholic theological faculty and the University of Zagreb

Zagreb, March 11, 1996 (IKA) – On Monday, March 11, on CatholicTheological Faculty Day in Zagreb, an agreement was signed in the university assembly hall on the position and activities of the CatholicTheological Faculty within the auspices of the University of Zagreb. Alarge number of guests were present, representing Church, state anduniversity officials. Speaking about the historical circumstances underwhich the Catholic Theological Faculty was excluded from the University ofZagreb in 1952, the university rector, Prof. Marijan Sunjic, stated thatthe former Communist authorities knew that to destroy the university wasto destroy the future of the Croatian nation, and by excluding theCatholic Theological Faculty from the University, they wanted to destroythe spirit and foundation of the University. Speaking about the historyof education in Zagreb, Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharic emphasized thatthe Zagreb Archdiocese is the cradle of higher education in Zagreb, and bythe reintegration of the Catholic Theological Faculty into the University,it obtained a spiritual zenith for the good of the Church, University andCroatian nation in general. The president of the Parliament (Sabor) ofthe Republic of Croatia, Vlatko Pavletic, academician, noted that on thisday by the signing of the agreement, a historical injustice inflicted bythe Communist regime upon the Catholic Theological Faculty and Churchamong the Croats had been corrected. In the name of the Holy See, thosepresent were addressed by the apostolic nuncio in Croatia Giulio Einaudi,who stated that this agreement confirms the good relations between theHoly See and the Republic of Croatia. All those who in any waycontributed to this solemn moment of the signing of the agreement betweenthe University and the Catholic Theological Faculty were thanked by thedean of the Catholic Theological Faculty, Prof. Franjo Sanjek. Theagreement was signed by the following: in the name of the CroatianConference of Bishops, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic; in the name of theUniversity of Zagreb, Rector Marijan Sunjic; in the name of theParliament, its president, Vlatko Pavletic and in the name of the CatholicTheological Faculty, Dean Franjo Sanjek. Those attending the signingceremonies included the auxiliary bishops of Zagreb, Duro Koksa and JurajJezerinac; president of the House of Representatives (Zupanski dom) of theParliament of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Katica Ivanisevic; and the vicepresident of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Jure Radic. The Ivan GoranKovacic Academic Choir under the direction of Maestro Sasa Britvicparticipated in the ceremony.