Bishop Bozanić explains the meaning of the agreements between the Holy See and Republic Croatia

Zagreb, 24, 1. 1996. (IKA) – Krk bishop Josip Bozanić, member of Croatian Bishops Conference#!s Commission for the relations with state, gave an interview to “Glas Koncila”, after three designs of the agreements between The Holy See and Croatian state; on legal questions, on education and cultural activities, and on pastoral care for Catholics in Croatian military forces, has been finished. Bishop Bozanić explains in details the meaning of these agreements for the Church and for the other confessional communities in Republic Croatia. “We can say #!free Church in free state#! is the principle of the agreement on legal questions. It is guaranteed in the agreement: the freedom of internal ecclesiastic establishment and the distribution of services, specially the nominations of bishops, the freedom of religion, the freedom of pastoral activities in special state and public institutions: prisons, hospitals, social homes, the freedom of ecclesiastic media and the presence of the Church in state#!s media. The agreement talks also about the foundation of ecclesiastic educational institutions, institutions for social care and caritative activities”, said bishop Bozanić, explaining the expression “free Church in free state”. Agreement predicts, emphasized Krk bishop, to ecclesiastic marriage to have civil consequences, what is defined by legal rules.
Agreement on educational and cultural activities defines the obligations of the state towards religious education at schools, and talks about catechism at schools, about spiritual-religious formation at universities, about Catholic schools, about legal status of ecclesiastic high schools and their financing, about ecclesiastic artistic and cultural heritage and its supporting, about return of ecclesiastic registers, chronicles and other books, said bishop Bozanić. The greatest news, in recent Croatian history, is the Agreement on spiritual care for Catholics-members of Croatian Republic military forces, according to which, when signed, The Holy See will establish a Military Ordinariate. “Military ordinariate is actually a new personal diocese. The head of Military ordinariate will be a bishop – military ordinary, nominated by the Holy See.
Diocesan bishops and higher heads of regulars will assign the priests to the Military ordinariate for spiritual service and they will be called military chaplains. The center of the Military ordinariate will be in Zagreb. Croatian Government through responsible ministries will insure the basic material assets for Military ordinariate#!s activities”, emphasized Krk bishop Josip Bozanić in his interview to the latest number of “Glas Koncila”.