Split (IKA) – From October 10 to 13, the regular 31st Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops was held in Split at the Archdiocesan Ordinariate, Archbishop Cardinal Josip Božanić presiding. As pointed out in a statement issued by the Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, the bishops discussed several current questions regarding the relations between the Church and the Croatian society and concluded that certain attempts to marginalize the Church and its public presence as well as present it in a negative context are apparent. Despite this, the Church shall continue to provide support and guidance to the faithful and people of goodwill who recognize sincere and genuine concern for each person, based upon faith in Christ the Lord, in the Church and its charitable works.

The bishops issued a special statement on the occasion of the beginning of the accession negotiations for entry by the Republic of Croatia into full membership in the European Union.

The central item of the extensive agenda was the question of training and education at the minor seminaries. The first draft of a document that will regulate this important area of work and activity was presented.

There was also discussion of ecological questions. The bishops expressed their great concern for the still unresolved oil transport question that threatens the destruction of the Adriatic Sea, which would signify irreparable loss to Croatia. It was pointed out that it is necessary to take account of Croatia’s great water wealth at all levels of the society. The bishops again spoke of the importance and role of Sunday in the Croatian society and expressed the desire that Sunday as a day of rest should be regulated and assured by suitable legal provisions.

Personnel changes were made at the session. Metropolitan Marin Barišić of Split-Makarska was elected as the new vice president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka and Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem were chosen as new members of the Permanent Council. In the new composition of the Episcopal Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for Croatian Caritas, in addition to Auxiliary Bishop Josip Mrzljak who remains the president and Bishop Đuro Gašparović who remains a member, Military Ordinary Bishop Juraj Jezerinac was appointed as a new member.

What has been heretofore the Episcopal Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for the Laity became the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for the Laity, to be headed by Auxiliary Bishop Valentin Pozaić. Bishop Mile Bogović was appointed as the president of the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for Institutions of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Committee of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for Young Persons became an independent body, headed by Bishop Ante Ivas of Šibenik.

The bishops expressed their support for the establishment of a new ecclesiastical territory with a see in Đakovo, while the question of an ecclesiastical territory with a see in Zadar remains open for the present, with indications that there will be further attempts to resolve the irregular situation of the Zadar Archdiocese.

The participants at the session included all the members of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, with the exception of Bishop Antun Škorčević of Požega, who was participating at the Synod of Bishops in Rome as the delegate of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, and Vladika Slavomir Miklovš of Križevci, who was prevented from attending for reasons of health. The members of the Croatian Conference of Bishops were joined by the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Francisco Xavier Lozano and, as delegates, the bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the apostolic administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan, Ratko Perić, of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops; and the vice president of the International Bishops Conference of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Bishop Ivan Penzeš of Subotica.