“The problem is not so much that of the relations between Church and media, as that of how to present events to the public in a more objective way. There’s always a risk of indulging in exhibition or caricature. The most important question is the accuracy of information”. With these words Cardinal Josip Bozanic, archbishop of Zagreb and president of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference, replied to journalists during his visit to the editorial offices of the lay paper “Vecernji list”, where he was invited on Sunday, 23 May, on the occasion of World Day of Social Communications. According to Cardinal Bozanic, “the credibility of the media can only be based on accurate information. Of course he added there is also the question of the credibility of the Church, which is based on teaching and real witness, but the problems arise when things are distorted”. Speaking with journalists, the archbishop reported on his recent talks with the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, whom he met in Stuttgart during the meeting of the European Christian movements and who declared that “Croatia is proceeding well in her path towards Europe” (i.e. EU membership). “Support for our country said Bozanic varies from state to state, and depends especially on familiarity with our situation. The media exert a great influence on people, whether they are members of the Church or not”. On the relations of the Church with the national civil authorities, the archbishop said that “the Church is always ready for dialogue, irrespective of what party is in power. She had never directly influenced the institutions and never shall but is always ready to expound and explain her own positions”.
