This referendum can prevent capricious changes to the institution of marriage by the eventual arbitrariness of the parliamentary majority, irrespective of the will of the people, as shown by the case in France. Therefore, the success of this referendum will ensure that the institution of a union of a man and woman, which in itself provides the legal basis for the establishment of a family, will more enduringly respect that union which is the best environment for every child—a responsible loving union of a mother and father.

They welcome the decision by the Croatian Parliament to call for a referendum and urge all the members of their communities—Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others—to vote in the referendum on Sunday, December 1, and use their votes to ensure the constitutional protection of marriage, because marriage as the union of a man and woman is the best place for receiving and raising children and establishing families, which are the basic units of every society.

Zagreb, October 16–18, 2013

A declaration of brotherhood between the Capuchin Parish of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić in Zagreb-Dubrava and the Archdiocese of Belgrade was signed.

The Mass of Beatification was presided over by the Special Envoy of Pope Francis, Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The Council members are astonished by the fact that the observation was not accepted that the sustainability of marriage is important not only for the good of children but also for spouses and the entire society, and a clear emphasis on the priority of the preservation of marriage is lacking, both in the preventive and curative senses.

The program is unique at the university level in Croatia and neighboring countries.

Zagreb, August 16, 2013