Zagreb, October 18, 1997 (IKA) — The Press Office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a statement today, October 18, on the fourteenth plenary session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, that we present in its entirety:
The fourteenth plenary session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops was held from October 14 to 16 in Dubrovnik. The session was opened by Cardinal Franjo Kuharić of Zagreb, who had been the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops until this session. After introductory greetings to all the bishops and especially the guests, Cardinal Kuharić congratulated the newly installed archbishop of Zagreb, bishop of Varaždin, bishop of Požega and military ordinary. The Cardinal then referred to the events during the past month that are highly significant for the future of the Church in Croatia. He then delivered touching farewell remarks to the bishops present, nearly all of whom he had ordained.
After this introduction, the session was conducted by the vice president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Metropolitan Archbishop Ante Jurić of Split-Makarska. On behalf of the Croatian bishops, Archbishop Jurić thanked Cardinal Kuharić for everything he has done for the Church among the Croats, the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the entire Croatian nation. He called him “the tested captain of the ship of our Church, that under his leadership has sailed with dignity through difficult trials and turbulent times.” Archbishop Jurić especially thanked the cardinal for the example he served to the faithful, priests and bishops, and his constant willingness to undertake great sacrifices. “You inspired not only us bishops but all the faithful and the entire Croatian nation as a defender of the faith, the individual, the rights of the poor and all those who are victims of injustice and persecution,” emphasized the vice president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops.
Guests at the session included the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Msgr. Giulio Einaudi, the diocesan administrator of the Krk Archdiocese, Msgr. Valter Župan; representatives of the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina: Bishop Ratko Perić of Mostar, Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka and on the last day Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić of Sarajevo. Bishop Ilija Janjić of Kotor [Montenegro] also was present. Of the Croatian bishops, Bishop Marin-Srakić of Ðakovo Srijem and Assistant Bishop Msgr. Ðuro Kokša of Zagreb were unable to attend the session.
On the occasion of the anniversary of the election of the Holy Father, the bishops sent Pope John Paul II their congratulations.
The first item of the session was the election of a new president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Metropolitan Archbishop Msgr. Josip Bozanić of Zagreb. In his acceptance remarks, Msgr. Bozanić emphasized that among his most important tasks will be promoting collegiality in the Croatian Episcopate, encouraging community and initiative, so that the leadership of the Catholic Church in Croatia can truly respond to the challenges and demands of the Church entering the third millennium. After these words, the vice president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Msgr. Jurić, offered his congratulations and turned over the leadership of the Conference to the new president.
Since the election of the new president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops left a vacancy in the Standing Council, a new member of the Standing Council was elected, Archbishop Msgr. Anton Tamarut of Rijeka-Senj. At the request submitted in June 1996 by Msgr. Vjekoslav Milovan, who served for many years as the general secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, he was relieved of this function and replaced by Bishop Antun Škvorèevićof Požega.
Archbishop Bozanić , due to new obligations and at his own request, was relieved of some of his duties in the Croatian Conference of Bishops. Therefore, he was replaced as president of the Council for Laity by Bishop Ante Ivas of Šibenik and as president of the Committee for the Great Jubilee Year 2000 by Bishop Marko Culej of Varaždin. The members of this committee are Msgr. Marin Barišić and the newly appointed Msgr. Ðuro Gašparović. The new president of the Supervisory Committee of the Croatian Caritas is Msgr. Ivan Prenđa and the members are Msgr. Slavomir Miklovš and Msgr. Ðuro Gašparović.
The revised program and curriculum for Catholic catechism in elementary schools were presented to the bishops by the delegate of Bishop Srakić of Ðakovo-Srijem, Marko Jerković. The bishops listened to the opinions of the National Catechism Institute and catechism experts. With requests for certain modifications, they accepted the proposal of the revised curriculum and program for Catholic Catechism in Elementary Schools and asked for a complementary plan to be prepared as soon as possible for the curriculum and program of diocesan catechism.
In the framework of the practical application of the concordat between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia on the Spiritual Charge of the Catholic Faithful Who are Members of the Military Forces and Police of the Republic of Croatia, the military ordinary Msgr. Juraj Jezerinac submitted Regulations on the Organization and Activity of the Military Ordinariate in the Republic of Croatia. The bishops revised the draft of these regulations.
At the session, the bishops approved with slight revision the draft of the Bylaws of the Association of Catholic Schools in Croatia and the draft of the Bylaws for the Center of Social Doctrine of the Church.
Although it had been thought necessary at this session to select the officials of the Croatian Caritas, the bishops postponed this subject for the next session of the Conference with the exception of the selection a new Supervisory Council. At the current session, the bishops revised the final versions of their message for Caritas Week.
The presidents of the councils, committees and commissions of the Croatian Conference of Bishops submitted reports on the activities of these bodies and their plans and programs for the next year. The Bishop of Zadar, Msgr. Prenða, reported to the bishops on the steps undertaken for the preparation of the exhibition “Christianity Among the Croats” to be held at the Vatican. Msgr. Marko Culej informed the bishops on the activity of Croatian Catholic radio, and Bishop Slavomir Miklovš of Križevci informed the bishops about questions in connection with the bishop#!s residence in Kri evci The bishops expressed their support of the bishop of Križevci, Msgr. Miklovš, in this matter and decreed that it should be settled through negotiation in accord with the Church regulations and pastoral needs.
Emphasizing the need for cooperation with the nearby conferences of bishops, the Croatian bishops accepted the invitation of the president of the Slovenian Conference of Bishops, Msgr. Franc Rode, to send a delegate to the session of their conference. Therefore, next week Msgr. Bozanić , the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, will travel to Ljubljana where the Slovenian bishops are holding their session in order to discuss long-term and ongoing cooperation.
The bishops scheduled the next session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for March 1998, to be devoted to young people. Since the Šibenik Diocese is celebrating its 700th anniversary next year, the autumn session in 1998 will be held in Šibenik.
On the last day of the session, the conditions at the Pontifical Croatian Institute of St. Jerome in Rome were discussed, especially some of the needs of the Institute. According to the bylaws, a new commission of the Pontifical Croatian Institute of St. Jerome in Rome was selected: Msgr. J. Bozanić , Msgr. A. Tamarut, Msgr. I. Prenđa, Msgr. Ž. Puljić and Msgr. R. Perić.
Members of the Bishops#! Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina acquainted their fellow bishops of the Croatian Conference of Bishops with the difficulties encountered by their faithful in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and other countries. The members of the Bishops#! Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina asked the bishops of the Republic of Croatia to intervene for solving the vital problems confronted by refugees in Croatia.
Bishop Ratko Perić of Mostar informed the bishops of a recent incident of the [unauthorized] distribution of the sacrament of Confirmation in Čapljina. Since this act in Čapljina crossed the boundary of the border of the Mostar Diocese from the ecclesiastical standpoint, the Croatian bishops considered it necessary to make the following statement to the Croatian Catholic public: “We express our profound sorrow concerning the unfortunate unanticipated event in Čapljina regarding the abuse of the sacraments and manipulation of the faithful. Such behavior does not serve the good of the soul and sullies the reputation of the Catholic Church among the Croatian nation. At this moment in history, we must build unity and accord. Therefore, we appeal to all to humbly support the Church community in the local Church that is manifested and spread only in community with the diocesan bishop, because he is a symbol of the unity and apostolic mission of the Church.
At the end of the session, the bishops thanked Bishop Želimir Puljić of Dubrovnik for his hospitality and the pleasant atmosphere surrounding the session.