Special session of the permanent council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops

Zagreb, August 8, 1995 (IKA) – On August 8, 1995, the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, comprised of Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, Bishop Srećko Badurina, Bishop Josip Bozanić and the general secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops Msgr. Vjekoslav Milovan, held a special session in Zagreb chiefly devoted to the events of the past four days that have shaken our Church and our Croatian homeland. Due to traffic difficulties, the bishop of Dubrovnik Želimir Puljić was unable to attend this session but sent written suggestions. The central theme of this session was the recently arisen situation of the Church in Croatia. In this connection, the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a statement. Considering the great task of renewal facing our Church and homeland in the liberated territories, the bishops called upon our faithful and all people of goodwill to participate with their assistance in the renewal of the Church institutions that have been damaged. They should send their contributions to the diocese ordinariates or the provincial administrators of orders, in order to avoid eventual misuse.
The Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops also discussed questions confronting the Church on the occasion of the International Conference on the Woman to be held this September in Peking, and issued a separate statement on it. Several other questions were also considered regarding current Church life.

Secretariat
Croatian Conference of Bishops

STATEMENT FROM THE SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
OF THE CROATIAN CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS

The Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, at a special session held on August 8, 1995 in Zagreb, discussed the situation that has arisen due to the highly significant events that occurred in Croatia during only four days.
Our parishes in the archdioceses of Zagreb, Rijeka-Senj, Zadar, Split-Makarska and the diocese of [ibenik, from where we were driven in the autumn of 1991, are finally open to the pastoral visits of our bishops and the return of the faithful and priests.
This refers to 68 dioceses with 97,358 parishioners. In addition, there are cloistered monks and nuns.
In these parts of our dioceses, we encounter desolation and discover the demolished and burned homes of our faithful, destroyed and desecrated Catholic churches, chapels, graves – the trampling of the testimony to our millennial Catholic life.
Unfortunately, peaceful attempts to solve this injustice inflicted upon our nation and the Church in Croatia were unsuccessful. Therefore, the Croatian government leadership considered the decision legitimate and moral to reclaim with armed intervention that which had been occupied and held by force.
The return and renewal of the Church and social life in these territories will require much will, effort, unity and patience. We are all called upon to make our contribution. Therefore, we urge our priests, our displaced persons and all the citizens of Croatia to make their contribution wholeheartedly to the great task of renewal that is before us.
In this sudden change, we note that the Serbian inhabitants of these territories, who according to the 1991 census numbered approximately 160,000, are to a great extent abandoning their homes. This occurred at the bidding of the Serbian Orthodox Church (cf. statement by Bishop Longin, Glas Koncila, July 2, 1995, p. 3) and at the orders of Serbian General Mile Mrk{ić.
We believe that many did not make the decision themselves to abandon their homes. Therefore, we support the statements and attempts by the Croatian authorities that urge the citizens of Serbian nationality to remain in their homes where they are guaranteed personal and civil safety as well as the inviolability of their property.
We express the hope that this guarantee will be fulfilled in its entirety for those who remained and that it will inspire the return of at least those who are not persecuted by feelings of guilt.
We urge Croatian Caritas, as already begun, to organize itself to aid all who are in distress, without looking at ethnic or confessional differences.
A principle of old Christian wisdom, “pray and work,” should be a guide for spiritual peace, for renewed faith in Christ and His Church, for honest and persevering efforts in creating the conditions for the life of the family, the broader community and the entire nation.
With feelings of respect and gratitude, we think about all who have invested their efforts and pledged their lives to realize a just goal. We express our best wishes to all the wounded. For all who have been killed, we pray a continual prayer to the merciful God to bestow upon them the reward of eternal salvation. To those in mourning, we wish Divine consolation and hope in the Resurrection.
We invoke God#!s blessing on the entire Homeland, upon all citizens of Croatia.

Permanent Council
Croatian Conference of Bishops

STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE CROATIAN CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS ON THE OCCASION OF THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE WOMAN TO BE HELD IN PEKING (SEPTEMBER 4-15, 1995)

Ten years ago, the participants at the Nairobi Conference (1985) proclaimed the “Decade of the Woman.” This year in Peking, the fourth world conference devoted to the woman will be held. From September 4 to 15, 1995, this conference, with the motto “equality, development and peace,” will attempt to assess the position and role of the woman at the end of the twentieth century.
Millions of women, especially in the Third World, are deprived of the basic human rights and personal dignity, without access to genuine education or adequate health care. In some countries, women are sold or bought and are often the victims of exploitation, violence and abuse. We are pleased that this conference in Peking will discuss questions on the dignity of the woman and confront other problems such as poverty, illiteracy, prostitution, violence against women and various forms of manipulation involving women in the mass media.
However, we are displeased that the “Working Document” expresses unacceptable opinions on life, sex education and the family. Such attitudes were also present in the “Working Document” last year at the Cairo Conference on Population and Development. We are concerned that the Peking Conference could become a new arena for the presentation of “progressive ideas” regarding life and the family, such as the Pope called “the culture of death” in the encyclical The Gospel of Life.
We therefore join in the urging and appeals of the Holy Father John Paul II, who tirelessly repeats that “every individual, regardless of age, sex, religion and nation has dignity and inalienable rights,” that “life is holy and inviolable” and that “human rights are inherent in human nature,” according to which a person is above all institutions and all human laws.
We particularly join the Pope#!s reflections regarding the role of the woman as mother, wife, sister, worker and nun that he published in his most recent Letter to Women dated June 29, 1995.
The contemporary atmosphere in which we live is saturated with individualism and poisoned by materialistic views. It unfortunately manifests its “destructive spirit” against the family and life.
In such an atmosphere, the deranged reason of today#!s person apparently is not capable or willing to discuss the values of life, marriage and the family on the level of moral and ethical principles.
We anticipate that in the spirit of the Pope#!s Letter to Women, as well as in the spirit of the encyclical On the Dignity of the Woman (August 18, 1988), our delegation from Croatia will make a positive contribution on the basis of our rich family tradition inspired by Christian principles and tenets ingrained in the Croatian being. We fully expect that the members of our delegation will be courageous and uncompromising in the defense of the family and life, demonstrating that they respect protect, love and serve life.
In preparation for Assumption Day, we appeal to our faithful to pray this novena wholeheartedly for our queen and mother to watch over our families. May Mary, the bearer of life and love, watch over Croatian women, over their calling of service to mankind, peace, life and the Kingdom of God.
May the Almighty, with the intercession of “the most exalted among women” bestow strength and wisdom upon us to build a civilization of life, truth and love.

Permanent Council
Croatian Conference of Bishops

Zagreb
August 8, 1995