Message from the Bishop regarding the Dayton Accord (Prot. no: 760/95 dated 24 November 1995)

PRAISE TO GOD - PEACE TO ALL MEN

To all priests, clergy, nuns and remaining faithful of the Banja Luka Diocese in the region of the diocese and elsewhere:

“GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!”  (Rom 1:7)

Enough of war! We want peace! This is the most important, most joyful, and most expected message which has been spread to all four corners of the world - “urbi et orbi” i.e. to our suffering homeland and to all in the world who have sincerely sympathised with us during this horrific several years long war tragedy.

For the Catholics of the Banja Luka Diocese, as well as for the other peace loving people around us, this official accord by the people most responsible for this war and for the establishment and implementation of peace - undoubtedly confirms the righteousness of our peaceable behaviour to date!

- We are well aware of God’s words of truth in the Holy Bible which say, “The Lord’s message is peace for his people, for his faithful if only they renounce their folly.” (Ps 85:9). This means that if we truly wish to enjoy true peace, peace which can only be given by God, we need to turn to God with all our hearts and not run after the worldly false gods, self-chosen and self- proclaimed! We need to jointly and individually pray to God in the words of the Psalm, “Bring us back, god our Saviour, appease your indignation against us! Show us, Lord, your faithful love, grant us your saving help.” (Ps 85:5-8). If God’s truth says that “Faithful Love and Loyalty join together” (Ps 85:11), this means that the yearned for peace and justice for us and for all people around us will only be realised when and in as much as we, those faithful to God the lover of man, try to fulfil God’s main commandments of mercy, forgiveness and love (Lk 6:27-28).

The most responsible politicians and statesmen have jointly obliged themselves to decisively implement peace and to remove any difficult, or inhumane repercussions of the war. It is clear to everyone that the entire region of our homeland will be guaranteed the highest measure of respect for human and civil right and liberties. Amongst the first of these rights is the right to protection of one’s life, property, the right to a home, a homeland; the right to freedom of religion; freedom of movement; the right to work, enabling a normal standard of living; the right to one’s own identity. This means that every person stripped of his rights or expelled is guaranteed a safe return home and a life worthy of man himself!

- It depends on us whether our peacefulness, our decisiveness to respect God and human rights will help all those good intentions of our politicians and statesmen who have obliged themselves to work to the general benefit of all our citizens!

Just as we have tirelessly ascertained throughout the entire time of this misfortunate war in our homeland, we want a true peaceful coexistence with all our co-citizens and neighbours. We wish to respect them all because God himself obliges us to do so. Once again we repeat to ourselves and everyone else - God in whom we believe is the God who loves man and He must have the “tenant’s rights” in our entire homeland! In all our villages and towns there must be people who will respect and love God and be in a state to forgive their brothers and when necessary to love them and help them in every way.

- Peace as we need it, is a necessary bond with justice and forgiveness and the love of man!

- We are all invited to be apostles of peace, justice, forgiveness and the love of man! If we truly answer to this invitation, and if we truly want the re-establishment of Christ’s kingdom; of truth, justice, love and peace in our dear homeland, then surely it will be realised as was revealed in God’s word in the Holy Bible; “The Lord will himself give prosperity, and our soil will yield its harvest!” (Ps 85:13).

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all my dear brothers, faithful and suffering brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, that the Lord, the source of peace, gives us peace in everything! May the Lord be with you all! (2 Th 3:16).

Next: ATTACKS AGAINST CATHOLIC PRIESTS, NUNS, THE FAITHFUL AND CHURCH BUILDINGS IN THE BANJA LUKA DIOCESE