Statement from the first session of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina

“WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL COMMUNITY”

During the first session of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was held in Mostar from 27 to 29 January 1995, the bishops issued the following statement:

1. In the multitude of laws which Pope John Paul II issued for the benefit of the Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially during these difficult times, we consider it of significance that he approved the establishment of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina via the Congregation for the Evangelization of the people and at the request of our diocesan bishops. Once again with this statement we wish to thank our Holy Father and the Holy See for this decision which has helped us to further strengthen the unity of the Catholic faithful, priests and bishops in our country. Even before the aggression against Bosnia-Herzegovina and during it, we bishops have shown our unity and determination via the Synod of Bishops of the Vrhbosna Metropoly and our joint seminary which was compelled to relocate from Sarajevo to Bol, as well as via our newsletter “Vrhbosna”, even though we were so often faced with difficulties due to the war, as well as national and territorial isolation, which did not allow for normal communications.

2. On 26 January we gratefully received a letter from the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Croatia, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, Archbishop of Zagreb, who amongst other things wrote: “We will be united with you in your thoughts and search for a solution to the pastoral issues within the realm of Church laws and recommendations from the Holy See. The Church amongst Croats remains as one, even if it is beginning to be led by two Bishops’ Conferences and even though it is dispersed over two different but internationally recognised countries”. We stress that we will attempt to one-heartedly act for the good of the Church amongst the Croatian people to whom we consciously belong, historically, in language and spirit. In agreement with the Bishops’ Conference of Croatia and with the suggestion of the Holy See we will, as two legal Church subjects, undertake to achieve the highest level of co-operation, liaison and unity.

3. Four Catholic dioceses in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Vrhbosna-Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkanj are each in their own way experiencing a bloody calvary. Apart from the fact that their territories have been divided between the various nations drawn into this war, where various war-time political systems have been established, the diocesan centres themselves show evidence enough of the tragedy which has befallen our times: today Sarajevo marks the 1000^th day of being under enemy siege. In Banja Luka, especially over the past few weeks, an even more perfidious form of terror is being accomplished, with expulsion and ethnic cleansing over the remaining non-Serb population. Mostar is divided in two parts. Trebinje is inaccessible for its episcopal administrator. Despite all of this we are grateful to God that we were able to organise this first session of our Bishops’ Conference in the city of Mostar.

4. We thank all Catholics in the world, their respective Bishops’ Conferences, especially those who have recently expressed their solidarity and closeness to us, for their humanitarian assistance and efforts with their various governments so that peace can finally come to this regions. We ask that they do not forget our suffering people, those who have been displaced, that they do not forget their human needs and rights. There are areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina where Catholics have remained for no other reason than to be the assisting hands of the Church, because unfortunately, other institutions have been restricted in their activities and have been distanced or have distanced themselves from reality.

5. The tragedy faced by our Croatian and Catholic people is mostly felt in the fact that more than half of our population (over 400,000) have been compelled to flee from their ancient hearths, and we do not see any perspective for their normal or regular return in the near future. All we can see are dark clouds of fear and foreboding for the displaced and for those remaining. Charity and humanitarian aid sent by good people around the world is in vain if we are not guaranteed human and civil rights of freedom and the right to live and work in our own towns, villages and cities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It matters not if we are hungry or full if our aggressor has sentenced us to death and is banishing us every day or even exterminating us from existence. We are deeply saddened by the intolerable mistakes the international political community has shown by allowing the aggression to continue, by being indifferent toward the people who are actually suffering immeasurable injustice, violence, destruction, banishment and slaughter and allowing “force” to be the rule. They hold talks on their knees with the “stronger” side, while they constantly set conditions to the “weaker” side! Appallingly we ask, is it possible that political interests and prestige are more important than man himself, or people and nations who through no fault of their own have been faced with genocide and extinction after existing for so many centuries with a national heritage, religious beliefs and a culture open toward everyone in these regions?

6. We are grateful to so many people, families, institutions especially state institutions in the Republic of Croatia who have accepted the thousands upon thousands of refugees from our country. We are conscious that added to the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in their own country this is a great burden. At the same time we ask that they be tolerant in the future and have understanding enough to help our people and wounded brothers. We understand the decisions made by the responsible politicians in Croatia with regard to the dismissal of the UNPROFOR who have not been effective in the task they were set. We ardently pray to God that, via the appropriate international and domestic factors, peace be returned to our land and our Croatian people and that justice be done for the wrong and that our displaced people be once again safely and surely returned to their own homes.

7. We know that every man is a pauper, that all people are sinners before the eyes of God and that we all need to deeply repent for our sins and omissions, something a true believer does all the time. We also know that various state and social institutions exist whose responsibility it is to stop the evil in their midst. We ask therefore those responsible institutions in Croatia to show their efficiency in removing social evils which are continuously spreading such as the abuse of drugs, various forms of criminal activities, abortion, pornography. The Catholic Church, our mother and teacher is the symbol of righteousness for every man in order to show him as an authentic image of God, so that all people in this world can live in peace and mutual respect. The Church will not tire in insisting on justice, respect and the truth and will always be prepared to co-operate with those institutions which are working toward moulding a healthy and spiritually satisfied man.

8. Christ is our peace (Eph 2:14). There will not be peace in this land without true active and mutual reconciliation. We especially call on the Catholic faithful, priests, clergy and nuns in the regions which the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina covers to give their most ardent belief to the Church and to unite with God as well as the best possible unity and reconciliation amongst each other and our neighbours.

Mostar, 29 January 1995

Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Vrhbosna & President of the BC B-H
Msg. Franjo Komarica, Bishop of Banja Luka
Msg. Ratko Peric, Bishop of Mostar-Duvno & Apost. Admin. of Trebinje-Mrkanj.