Zagreb, July 27, 2000 (IKA) — The president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, and the director and president of the Management of Croatian Radio-Television, Mirko Galić, signed an agreement today in Zagreb between the Croatian Conference of Bishops and Croatian Radio-Television. Director Galić pointed out that the agreement legally establishes the relations, rights and obligations concerning radio and television programs on religious life, especially the life of the Catholic Church. He noted that during the past ten years, Croatian Radio-Television has regularly broadcast programs of religious content, adding that the signing of contracts between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia has made it possible for Croatian Radio-Television and the Croatian Conference of Bishops of establish their relationship in an official and legal manner regarding the producing and broadcasting of the religious programming that concerns the Catholic Church, without excluding other religious communities. Director Galić also pointed out that the agreement reaffirms the present range of programming, which is open to the other religious communities, and that as a source for the agreement they used models from two countries already in the European Union, Italy and Portugal, and two countries, Hungary and Poland, which, like Croatia, aspire to become members of the Union. “Public television and public radio are a service of the religious communities for presenting objective information about themselves and for expressing their religious identities. The fact that this agreement legally establishes relations with only one Church does not mean that the others are excluded. Moreover, in the text the doors are open for establishing the positions of the other religious communities, when the necessary legal prerequisites have been met (Religious Communities Act),” said Mirko Galić, adding that until then the Catholic Church will share the programming proportionally with the minority Churches, and that Croatian Radio-Television will facilitate and assure the pluralistic character of religious programming.
Archbishop Josip Bozanić began his remarks by pointing out that the act of signing the agreement contributes to the process of the democratization of the Croatian society that is gradually taking place. “The document contracted by the parties, which they are signing today, is based upon lofty civilized principles, upon the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia that guarantees freedom of conscience and religion, and the freedom of the public profession of faith and other convictions, the equality of all religious communities before the law and their separation from the state, as well as the principles by which freedom of the press and other mass media are guaranteed,” stated the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. He added that the agreement is an implementation of the contract between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia. By this contract, the Republic of Croatia has undertaken the obligation, according to the stipulations of the Croatian legislation, to afford the Catholic Church suitable access to the mass media, and this principle is certainly valid for the other Churches and religious communities, while the agreement itself opens the path for them to obtain similar legal regulation. The president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops pointed out that the agreement underscores the importance of religious freedom in a pluralistic society and respect for the sentiments of believers, members of societies and the fundamental human values of a religious and ethical nature. “Respecting the principles of dialogue and tolerance, the Catholic Church in Croatia is prepared to cooperate with all who work for the promotion of the good and the legal advancement of our society. This contract creates a legal framework for such work and aspirations,” said Archbishop Bozanić.
According to the newly signed agreement, the range of the programming on Croatian Radio and Croatian Television will remain nearly unchanged. Among its provisions is that the editor of the religious programming on Croatian Television and the editor of the religious programming on Croatian Radio will be hired and terminated by the Director of Croatian Radio-Television with the concurrence of the Croatian Conference of Bishops.
Archbishop Bozanić answered journalists’ questions in connection with the Catholic Church in Croatia. In response to a question on the possibility of contracts between the Catholic Church and other state media, he said that in principle the Catholic Church is open to cooperation with all who work for the general good and advancement of the Croatian society. Regarding the collaboration of the Catholic Church in the preparation of the Religious Communities Act, Archbishop Bozanić stated that the Church has already expressed its openness to dialogue regarding the law and willingness to participate in its preparation, and although it has not been asked to participate as yet, it will gladly do so when invited. Explaining one of the planned topics for the autumn session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops regarding religious instruction and parish catechesis, of which there has been much discussion in the media, the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishop stated that this means the further strengthening of religious instruction in schools as well as the strengthening and a certain revival of parish catechesis, which are two different things. In response to a question regarding the demolition of unlawfully constructed buildings, including the demolition of an Orthodox church in Lovas, the threatened demolition of a Catholic church near Petrinja, and a request for the protection of Serbian Orthodox churches from Belgrade by the Commission for Relations with Religious Communities, Archbishop Bozanić said that a deeper analysis of this problem is needed, as well as respect for legislation. He added that he was not acquainted with the request of the Serbian Orthodox Church but would soon be travelling to Yugoslavia where he will meet with Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle, on which occasion he will probably learn more about this matter.