“The central theme of the 24th spring plenary Session of the Croatian Episcopal Conference was the question of the pastoral guidelines for the Church in Croatia at the beginning of the new millennium“. This was reported by the archbishop of Rijeka, Msgr. Ivan Devcic, at a press conference on the conclusion of the assembly which was held in Zagreb from 9 to 12 April. The bishops attending the session expressed their views, on the whole positive, about the recent “Law on the religious communities”, though reserving the right to submit some aspects to the examination of experts, in particular the question of the definition of religious community. The Croatian bishops also reviewed preparations for the Catholic Days of Central Europe, planned for 22 and 23 May 2004. In preparation for this event, an international symposium on marriage and the family will be held in Croatia. The bishops gathered in Zagreb also expressed concern about the critical situation, difficulties and uncertainties being experienced by numerous young people and their fathers who are unemployed or have lost their jobs. “We think in particular write the Croatian bishops of the difficulties and humiliations suffered by families persecuted and expelled from Drvar in recent days”.
