Zagreb, December 21, 2000 (IKA) — A new financial system for the Catholic Church in Croatia will go into effect on January 1, 2001. The December 24 issue of the Catholic weekly Glas Koncila includes an interview on this subject with Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem, one of the bishops who participated in the preparation of the necessary documents. At the beginning of the interview, Bishop Srakić pointed out that uniform parish treasuries will handle all receipts and expenditures. “From these treasuries will come all expenditures for the needs of worship and pastoral work, church building maintenance, monthly financial compensation for priests and other Church officials, household expenses and overhead,” explained Bishop Srakić, adding that the new financial system, in compliance with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, is intended to replace the obsolete system “with the principle of solidarity according to which all in the Church contribute to its various needs and from a single fund each Church official is able to receive just compensation and thereby establish social equality.”
The parish economic councils will have a special role in the new financial system and will be asked to assist the parish priest in the management of Church property. “The faithful who give their contributions have the right to know for what they are being spent,” said Bishop Srakić, adding that “the transparency of revenues and expenditures is the greatest trust that a parish priest and his parish can establish.”
Speaking about the obligations of a parish, Bishop Srakić stressed that the faithful via these fundamental Church institutions will contribute to the central diocesan institutions such as seminaries, diocesan ordinariates or curias, diocesan projects and programs of diocesan significance. It should be kept in view that significant funding is required for the new opportunities for pastoral activity in our society such as schools, encounters, courses, cultural manifestations and the increasing need for charity. It should not be forgotten that assistance is needed for the reconstruction of the large number of churches, monasteries, convents, rectories and other Church properties that were destroyed or damaged during the recent war, as well as new pastoral centers and the support of priests and other church officials, and the training of future priests and Religious. Large construction projects will continue to be financed as they have been up to now from the regular contributions of the faithful, with assistance from special fund raising activities, and if there is a lack of funds, the Episcopal Institution for the Support of the Clergy will provide assistance.
The system has also introduced criteria for the compensation of priests. “Priests will be provided with health insurance in compliance with the legal standards, and a contribution to this insurance will be paid by the Episcopal Institution for the Support of the Clergy and Other Church Officials. Retirement insurance will be paid for from the parish treasuries according to the stipulations of said institution. Retired priests are entitled to lodging in a retirement home for priests or other suitable institutions and are entitled to care, medical treatment and a monthly pension in compliance with the stipulations of the Episcopal Institution for the Support of the Clergy and Other Church Officials,” said Bishop Srakić