For love of this country

Last 21st of March, there was in Mostar the 57th regular plenary session and during this event the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina addressed a special appeal to the members of diocesan communities and to entire domestic public as well as to international community to help their Country (http://www.bkbih.ba – http://www.ktabkbih.net/info.asp). It was signed by Cardinal Vinko Puljiæ, Archbishop of Vrhbosna-Sarajevo, Mons. Franjo Komarica, bishop of Banja Luka and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mons. Ratko Periæ, bishop of Mostar/Duvno and Apostolic administrator of Trebinje/Mrkan Mons. Tomo Vukšiæ, military bishop Mons. Pero Sudar, auxiliary bishop of Vrhbosna-Sarajevo Mons. Marko Semren, auxiliary bishop of Banja Luka.1. Aware of the kind of troubles they went through and of all the difficulties they still encounter, we express our respect and admiration to all members of the Catholic Church, but also to many others in Bosnia and Herzegovina who have lived and are experiencing similar problems and adversity for having not lost their love for their homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for their willingness to live together here. 2. Recent donor conference, as well as almost all the efforts of the majority of local and international representatives of the power centers from Dayton till today, were launched with the aim of cementing injustice achieved by war conquest and expulsion of "others" who are different and by creating ethnically "clean territories". Namely, this conference with its donations and its way of allocating funds does equate those who settled down in other people’s property and those who have been expelled from their homes. Despite this and because of it, our wish is to awake and encourage all the positive forces, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad, so that the largest part of donated funds is invested primarily for those who have already expressed their willingness to return to their property from which they were expelled and to start finally, especially when we talk of Catholics, their authentic process of returning to their homes.3. Christians should carry out their duties, and so serve their fellow humans generously and effectively. The fundamental reason why we as members of the Church should cooperate with all people is the fact that Christ died and rose for all humans. So, barriers to truly humane development of society in our country lie primarily in the currently imposed and unjust social structures and this is why they prevail in the hearts of its inhabitants, including us local Catholics. 4. The community is supposed to take care that its every member has an access to all basic human rights and freedoms. However, the effectiveness of any community depends on its constructive and engaged individuals. This is why we encourage everyone to contribute to the healing and well-being of society in Bosnia and Herzegovina within his or her competence and ability. Therefore, fundamental changes in the attitudes of many individuals in our country are necessary as well as basic changes of our society, but not the kind of the changes the international community keeps announcing in recent months and we are afraid of them. 5. As believers we have been and we are still aware that we must strive for a just and lasting peace. But real peace is more than an absence of armed conflict or a command of the mightier one. Peace requests truth, respect, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation, solidarity and love. 6. We remind of the tragic fact of huge, irreparable injustice inflicted during the war and all post war years on Catholics -who are predominantly ethnic Croats – along with many other fellow citizens, members of other ethnic communities, national minorities and religious communities in our country. Confronting the wind of destructions and crimes, almost half of Catholic population had to leave their homes, parishes and their centuries-old patrimony. During all these years, certain political and social structures did not allow them to return home and in addition they hindered in many ways any safe return and they still continue even today making impossible such a return. It is hard to avoid the impression that the intention of some influential political mighty ones is to eradicate the Catholics from large areas of their home country, especially the northern, northwestern and central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the other hand, it is indisputable that with these disenfranchised people (refugees) were their priests all the time supported by many persons of good will, sharing with them their hard living conditions and exhorting them not to give up their faith in God and in their own endeavor to correct injustices inflicted on them. 7. In the beginning of this year, after many and frequent interventions of us Catholic bishops and representatives of the Holy See, finally there are signs that some of the state and political structures, including the influential international factors, repeated their principled willingness to provide legally and financially a sustainable return of Catholic exiles to their towns and parishes. We welcome that willingness of domestic institutions and international organizations. We expect them to create an effective strategy for rebuilding houses, farms and infrastructure for a sustainable return of all who want it, including Catholic returnees, and to really implement that strategy. We encourage all of you, members of our diocesan communities to practice mutual solidarity, revive your faith trusting in God’s providence, to prayer gratefully to God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary and of our heavenly Patrons. True Christians will not despair nor run away from life’s challenges and difficulties, but they will be filled with Christian hope for their personal life and the life of other people around themselves and stay open for the Christian charity toward all. We pray to God for all of you and we encourage you to become and remain credible believers and followers of the crucified and risen Christ!