Zagreb, (IKA) – We have not confirmed any abuse whatsoever at the Caritas home for children in Brezovica, nor has inspection by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed abuse, about which consecutive written reports have been submitted. Whether the police or the Office of the State Prosecutor has confirmed abuse will be decided by the court. From our standpoint, there has been no abuse whatsoever, announced a member of the Commission for the Visitation of the Zagreb Archdiocesan Caritas, Anđeljko Jureško, at a press conference held on March 17 at the Palace of the Archbishop in Zagreb, at which a report on the visitation was presented.

In response to a question whether the Commission for Visitation denies the occurrences concerning the “Brezovica case,” Jureško responded that it was not a matter of denial but the establishment of the facts. Neither the commission nor the authorized inspection by the Ministry has confirmed the fact of abuse, and whether the police or the office of the state prosecutor have evidence is not known because these materials are not accessible. If any abuse whatsoever is eventually established, we express our profound sorrow in advance, said Jureško.

In response to a request to comment on the discrepancy between what the visitation found at the home in Brezovica and the fact that there have been eight criminal charges and one disciplinary proceeding against a member of the office of the state prosecutor in the Brezovica affair, the visitor, Auxiliary Bishop Valentin Pozaić of Zagreb, responded that they are waiting for the results of the proceedings. “The investigation is in progress and I do not want to prejudge the results,” he commented. Jureško added that the task of the visitation was not the establishment of whether crimes had been committed because this task was assigned to other bodies, and that entering into the sphere of competence of these other bodies would be legally and constitutionally unacceptable from their position, he added.

In response to a question about the purpose of the visitation, if it was not to confirm the charges concerning Brezovica, Bishop Pozaić responded that the purpose of the visitation was not only to investigate the home in Brezovica but was also directed at Caritas as a whole and its reorganization. “Of course, particular attention was devoted to the question of the accusations, and we are awaiting the results of the investigation and court proceedings,” he said.

Speaking about the care and rehabilitation provided in such homes in general, Bishop Pozaić noted that it should be pointed out that there are problems and difficulties in regular families, regular schools and regular homes, and the Caritas homes cannot be exempt in this respect. On the contrary, he said, in these homes there are children with physical and mental disabilities, with various types of developmental and behavioral disorders from dysfunctional or broken families, who have endured various traumatic experiences. That is why the home in Brezovica is called the Caritas Home for Children Lacking Suitable Parental Care. There are certainly questions, added the bishop, regarding how to approach and solve these problems. On the one hand, it is understandable that there can be more problems of various types and degrees among such children than in regular homes and schools. On the other hand, greater awareness is expected from those responsible in such homes, the staff, regarding their obligations and duties toward the children entrusted to their care, noted Bishop Pozaić.

“For all the shortcomings and omissions, known or unknown, that occurred or that are said to have occurred, about which it is still necessary to await the results of all the investigations that are in progress, as well as for all that was inconsistent with the dignity and rights of children, and with the justified expectations for an ideal home within the Caritas framework, whether children or adults, on this occasion we once again express our sincere and profound sorrow, with the firm intention that every injustice shall be corrected in a suitable manner and prevented from occurring in the future,” emphasized Bishop Pozaić.

Presenting the report on the visitation, Bishop Pozaić said that Caritas was generally operating according to its espoused ideals and principles, although it was possible to identify specific shortcomings and omissions regarding Caritas as a whole. The homes are not being operated according to all the existing approved norms and some of the planned services lack full staffing. “Finances and bookkeeping were not conducted according to modern standards. The amounts that the authorized ministry paid per child were below the state norms, so that the children and homes, in comparison to those of the state, were discriminated against, Therefore, the staff wages were lower than the state average, while the requirements and responsibilities were equal. There were too any occupants in some of the homes or houses, according to the stipulated criteria, and too few qualified caregivers because Caritas never turned away a single child,” said Bishop Pozaić.

He also mentioned that at the beginning of the visitation, personnel files were found that were not in order. Therefore, the process of establishing precise dossiers, to the extent possible, has begun. On August 1, 2005, there were 289 employees, of whom 73 were permanent and 216 were temporary, as well as several volunteers. Bishop Pozaić commented that partially due to the war and postwar circumstances, the hiring policy at Caritas was based more upon helping persons in need to secure housing and livelihood rather than a suitable standard professional policy. He pointed out that particular attention was devoted in the visitation to the educational and professional work of the staffs at the Caritas homes, during which a shortage of qualified personnel was identified and specific changes were immediately ordered. A lack of funds, he said, certainly had a significant impact on the lack of suitable personnel. He also pointed out that the recently signed annex to the contract between the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the temporary administration of the Zagreb Archdiocesan Caritas will improve the financial situation somewhat. Up to now, Caritas has only been receiving 34% of the amount of state contribution stipulated by law. This amount has now been raised to 54%, although there is still a deficit of 46%, he noted.

Bishop Pozaić observed that the tasks of the visitation were significantly hindered by the atmosphere created “via unsuitable media coverage, so that a mood of uncertainty, distrust, fear and suspicion could be found among the staffs and the occupants.”

The archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, ordered the visitation of Caritas by a decree dated July 14, 2005. The visitation began on August 1, 2005 and continued until November 27.