Cardinal Puljić and bishop Komarica spoke at a European Council Comission session on nationalism and minorities

Bled, October 14, 1997 (IKA/KTA) — Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić of Sarajevo and Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka spoke at a session of the Justice and Peace Commission of the European Council, that is being held in Bled from October 11 to 15. Speaking on the subject of the session, Nationalism and Minorities, Bishop Komarica called attention to the difficult circumstances and persecution of the Catholic and other non-Serbian populace in the Banja Luka Diocese. Bishop Komarica asked what the Justice and Peace Commissions in Western European countries have done to prevent the injustices that have still not stopped. Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić of Sarajevo reported to those present about the causes of war, serious wartime suffering in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the post-war period. He emphasized that severe consequences of the war and post-war period are still felt today. Besides a large number of physically wounded persons, there are great social injustices including corruption that is even sometimes somewhat legalized, weapons trade, numerous strange diseases that cause rapid death and suicides brought on by depression. Cardinal Puljić emphasized the particular danger of spreading hatred via the mass media because the end of armed conflicts was followed by a political and media war. He pointed out failures by the international community that does not work to protect the identity of every ethnic group and promote coexistence with respect for differences but supports a type of syncretism. According to the cardinal, it is necessary to stop the spreading of hatred and create such an atmosphere among the media, particularly in Sarajevo, that everyone can identify with and be allowed to return to his home. The politics of “return where you can” creates new ethnic cleansing, stressed the archbishop of Sarajevo. During the war, the Catholic Church attempted to help people survive through Caritas and began to educate children and young people in tolerance at “schools for Europe.” The Catholic Church is now participating in the establishment of an Inter-Religious Council, concluded Cardinal Vinko Puljić.