Episcopal Conference of Croatia

Summary

The Croatian Bishops' Conference (Croatian: Hrvatska biskupska konferencija; Latin: Conferentia Episcoporum Croatiae) (HBK) is an episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in Croatia. The Conference was founded on May 15, 1993 after Croatia regained its independence after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, which consequentially led to the abolition of the Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia. HBK is composed of all active and retired bishops; currently 32 (20 active, 11 retired, 1 military ordinary).[1]

Croatian Bishops' Conference
AbbreviationHBK
Formation15 May 1993
TypeCivil nonprofit
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersZagreb
Location
  • Ksaverska cesta 12a
Region served
Croatia
Membership
Active and retired Catholic bishops of Croatia
Official language
Croatian & Latin
President
Archbishop Dražen Kutleša
Parent organization
Holy See
AffiliationsCCEE
COMECE
Websitehbk.hr

History edit

During the breakup of Yugoslavia, Croatia declared its independence on June 25, 1991. The Holy See recognized Croatia on January 13, 1992. Croatian bishops made a proposal for the establishment of the Croatian Bishops' Conference.

On May 15, 1993, the Holy See issued a decree by which it established governing body for the Croatian dioceses-Croatian Bishops' Conference.[2] Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, was elected as a first Conference President.

The HBK Statute was renewed on February 5, 2000. Cardinal Josip Bozanić served as Conference president in two terms (1997-2007). At the HBK plenary session in October 2007 in the town of Gospić, Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek Marin Srakić was elected as the President. Vice-Presidents of the Conference were Cardinal Josip Bozanić and Archbishop of Split-Makarska Marin Barišić. At the 45th session of the HBK that was held on November 14, 2012 Archbishop of Zadar Želimir Puljić was elected as the fourth Conference President.[3]

HBK and Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina takes care of the pastoral care of Croatian Catholics abroad. They also appoint together Episcopal Commission for the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome in Rome. In addition, their common question are also liturgical books in Croatian. According to this, both Conferences have an annual common season.

HBK is a member of Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe and Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community.

Organisation edit

Conference bodies are:

  • Episcopal Commission (for: 1. Liturgy, 2. Relations with the European Union, 3. Croatian Caritas, 4. Relations with the State, 3. a Dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church, 4. Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome)
  • Councils (for: 1. the Doctrine of Faith, 2. Catechizing, 3. Clergy, 4. Seminaries and Vocations, 5. Institutes of Consecrated Life, 6. Life and Family, 7. Laity, 8. Education, 9. Ecumenism and Dialogue, 10. Cultural and Church Cultural Assets, 11. Missions, 12. Pastoral Care of Migrants with committees for Pastoral Care of Tourists and Pastoral Care of Sailors, 13. Croatia Foreign Congregation with the National Office for the Croatian Foreign Congregation)
  • Commissions (1. Legal, 2. "Iustitia et Pax" (Justice and peace), 3. Joint Commission of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, 4. Croatian Conference of Major Superiors and Croatian Union of Major Superiors)
  • Committees (for: 1. Youth, 2. Social Communication, 3. Pastoral Care of Prisoners, 4. Pastoral Care of Roma)
  • General Secretariat
  • Offices of the General Secretariat (for: 1. Finances, 2. National Catechism, 3. Media, 4. Family, 5. Secular Societies, Movements and Communities, 6. Youth)
  • Institutes (1. Central Institution of the HBK for maintaining clergy and other officers, 2. Croatian Caritas, 3. Croatian Catholic Radio, 4. Catholic Press Agency, 5. Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 6. Croatian Institute for Liturgical Pastoral)

The President and Vice President shall be elected for the time period of three years by bishops, with term renewable twice.

Members edit

Members of the Croatian Bishops' Conference are:

  • Active bishops:
Name Title Duties within HBK
 
Dražen Kutleša Archbishop of Zagreb President of the Conference
President of the Legal Commission
President of the Episcopal Commission for relations with the State
Member of the Episcopal Commission for the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome
 
Josip Bozanić Archbishop Emeritus of Zagreb Vice President of the Conference
Member of the Permanent Council
President of the Commission for relations with the European Union
 
Želimir Puljić Apostolic Administrator of Split-Makarska
Archbishop emeritus of Zadar
President of the Permanent Council
President of the Council for Culture and Church Cultural Heritage
Member of the Commission for relations with the European Union
 
Đuro Hranić Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek President of the Council for catechizing and the new evangelization
Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the State
Member of the Episcopal Commission for dialogue with Serbian Orthodox Church
Member of the Committee for Croatian Diaspora
President of the Committee for Pastoral care of Romani people
 
Ivan Ćurić Archbishop Coadjutor of Đakovo-Osijek
 
Mate Uzinić Archbishop of Rijeka President of the Council for Institutes of Consecrated Life
Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with States
Member of the Legal Commission
Member of the Mixed Commission of HBK and HKVRPP
 
Milan Zgrablić Archbishop of Zadar
 
Vjekoslav Huzjak Bishop of Bjelovar-Križevci President of the Council for Clergy
President of Commission Justice and Peace
Member of the Episcopal Commission for relations with the State
Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the EU
 
Vlado Košić Bishop of Sisak President of the Council for ecumenism and dialogue
Member of the Episcopal Commission for dialogue with Serbian Orthodox Church
 
Bože Radoš Bishop of Varaždin
 
Roko Glasnović Bishop of Dubrovnik
 
Ranko Vidović Bishop of Hvar
 
Tomislav Rogić Bishop of Šibenik None
 
Antun Škvorčević Bishop of Požega President of the Council for Education
Member of the Mixed Commission of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Croatian Conference of Major Superiors and the Croatian Union of Major Superiors
 
Ivan Štironja Bishop of Poreč-Pula
Apostolic Administrator of Kotor
 
Zdenko Križić Bishop of Gospić–Senj None
 
Ivica Petanjak Bishop of Krk None
 
Jure Bogdan Military Ordinary of Croatia None
 
Mijo Gorski Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb President of the Committee for Youth
 
Ivan Šaško Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb President of the Commission for Liturgy
Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the State
 
Milan Stipić Eparch of Križevci
  • Retired bishops:
Name Title Duties within HBK
 
Marin Barišić Archbishop emeritus of Split-Makarska
 
Ivan Devčić Archbishop emeritus of Rijeka
 
Juraj Jezerinac Emeritus Military Ordinary
 
Ivan Milovan Bishop Emeritus of Poreč-Pula
 
Marin Srakić Bishop Emeritus of the Đakovo-Osijek
 
Valter Župan Bishop Emeritus of Krk
 
Ante Ivas Bishop Emeritus of Šibenik
 
Nikola Kekić Eparch Emeritus of Križevci
 
Josip Mrzljak Bishop Emeritus of Varaždin
 
Slobodan Štambuk Bishop Emeritus of Hvar
 
Valentin Pozaić Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Zagreb

Presidents edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.hbk.hr/?type=clanak&ID=27
  2. ^ http://www.hbk.hr/?type=dokument&ID=33
  3. ^ http://www.hbk.hr/?type=vijest&ID=409

External links edit

  • Croatian Bishops' Conference website (Croatian)
  • Croatian Bishops' Conference webpage. GCatholic.org website