Zagreb (IKA) — On the occasion of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, to be commemorated on August 5, the bishops of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a statement on August 1 that we present in its entirety:
“As believers, we wish to join in the celebration of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and also the tenth anniversary of the liberation of a great portion of the formerly occupied territories in the military-police campaigns of Lightning and Storm. In a special way, we commend our homeland, the Croatian nation and all Croatian citizens to the powerful protection of Our Lady, who on August 5 is celebrated as Our Lady of the Snows, and on the commemoration of the jubilee of Thirteen Centuries of Christianity among the Croats as Our Lady of the Great Croatian Baptismal Oath.
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the liberation of the occupied Croatian territories and the end of the Homeland War, we thank God for the gift of peace and freedom. In prayers, we remember all who with confidence in Our Lady’s intercession opposed the war of aggression and made possible the peaceful and safe building of our society for the well-being of all Croatian citizens. With emotions of profound gratitude, we remember those who lay down their lives in the defense of the homeland. We pray for their peace and rest in the Lord. We also express gratitude to all those who sacrificed themselves, particularly Croatian soldiers, who endured the years of hardships and suffering of the vicissitudes of war, defending their families and children, nation and homeland. We urge all those responsible now, in freedom, to value the merits of both the deceased and living Croatian defenders fairly. We decisively refute all attempts — due to individual cases of violations of the international conventions of warfare, for which we are deeply sorrowful — to call the legitimacy of the military-police campaigns of Lightning and Storm into question. The Church, which spiritually and morally supported the just aspirations of the Croatian citizens for freedom and independence, as it continues to do today, encourages the furthering of the general good, justice, peace and development in the Croatian society. It does not tire of encouraging and urging all Croatian citizens to return to their homeland. It follows the process of reconciliation with particular favor, within the framework of the Croatian national entity, the Croatian nation, as well as among the ethnic nations. Only reconciliation and forgiveness create the necessary prerequisites for harmonious co-existence among people. The Church, in its own manner, constantly makes its own contribution to the creation of a democratic society.
The tenth anniversary of the liberating campaigns of Lightning and Storm obligates all Croatian citizens and all responsible in society to work responsibly and harmoniously for the general good, for the building of an earthly homeland in the spirit of service, to which we believers are called by Christ’s gospel. With God’s help, unity and the power of national fellowship, despite “adverse winds,” we believe that it will be possible to create that which seems impossible at first glance: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Lk 1,37).
Therefore, on this occasion we also invite you, brothers and sisters in Christ, to the fellowship of the breaking of the bread and the Word, in thanksgiving to the Lord for peace and freedom, for us all together to promote the dignity of each human person and consistently respect human rights in order to build a better future for all in our beautiful homeland. With the apostle Paul, we urge you: “Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace” (Eph 6, 14–15). May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the community of the Holy Spirit be always with you!”