The 16th International Symposium of Church Lawyers Held

The sixteenth international scientific symposium of church lawyers, on the topic of temporary goods under the laws of the church, was held on 6 and 7 October 2023 in Sarajevo under the sponsorship of the Croatian Episcopal Conference, the symposium was organized by the Croatian Canonist Society in the co-organization of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, the UNSA and the University of Zagreb Faculty of Catholic Theology. The symposium brought together church lawyers, employees and external associates of church courts and economics (over) dioceses and institutions of consecrated life and society of the Apostolic Life from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Slovenia.

The opening of the symposium was attended by Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, Archbishop of Metropolitan Vrhbosanski, President of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Apostolic Manager of the Military Ordinance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Msgr. Mate Uzinić, Archbishop of Rijeka and Metropolitan and spiritual leader of the Croatian Canonist Society, Msgr. Andrej Saja, Bishop of Novome and President of the Slovenian Episcopal Conference, Assoc. Ph.D. Mario Bernadić, Dean of the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Sarajevo and Msgr. Javier Camañes-Forés, Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The address to participants was also by Prof. Dr. Ivica Ivanković Radak, president of the Croatian Canonist Society, especially emphasizing the importance of the chosen theme of the symposium because it was less discussed within the canonical-legal circles and is less represented among the authors in the Croatian and Slovenian speaking areas. Therefore, he particularly thanked the lecturers for their time and scientific efforts to divide his time and scientific efforts to the symposium.

After a common prayer, as a bishop of the host, the word of greeting was said by Msgr. Tomo Vukšić. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the scientific symposiums of church lawyers because these sets "enriched the church life by clarification of church regulations in various areas" and lectures are always "of great benefit for concrete church life". He has singled out as very commendable that the symposia is held in various parts and dioceses, as this "shows the interest in all parts of the Church", which especially contributes to the strengthening of communion.

Msgr. Mate Uzinić, as a spiritual leader of society, in a commemorative word, emphasized that church goods can only serve for three purposes: that the Church could do its mission to deny those who do it and for those in need. Therefore, he expressed hope that the symposium would help all participants "build themselves first to the poor in a spiritual sense so that material goods would not become our goal, and thus help us build a church that is poor for the poor."

Since the venue for the Symposium was the City of Sarajevo, the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Sarajevo, was one of the co-organizers of the symposium. The newly elected dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mario Bernadić sent a welcome word to presenting a briefly history of the KBF institution in Sarajevo and expressing everyone a hearty welcome.

Greeting speech by Prof. Dr. Josip Šimunović, University of Zagreb Faculty of Catholic Theology Dean was read by Prof. Dr. Taras Barščevski. Dean emphasized the importance, actuality and need of scientific reflection on the chosen theme of the symposium, because the Church “correctly managing and acting with temporal goods gives a testimony of a credible community to imagine Jesus Christ.” He emphasized the praiseworthy and refinement that the symposium is not static but always maintained in another city, because it gives it a better time to get to know the “life and work of the local church.”

On the first day of the symposium, these lectures were held: The Basic Principles of the Canonical Decoration on the Management of Church Goods (Prof. Drr. Slavko Zec, Rijeka); Levels and Subjects of Management of Acquired Things (Dr. Ilija Dogan, Đakovo); Establishment of Special Ecclesiastical Management Institutions (Marko Martić, Rome); Ordinary Duties and Competence when Managing Church Goods (Ilija Marković, Sarajevo); Economic tasks, Economic Council and Audit in (over) the Diocese (M.Sc. Gregor Rogelj, Ljubljana).

In the afternoon, the symposium participants visited Sarajevo and concluded the first day with the Eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral of the Heart of Jesus, led by Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, Archbishop of Metropolitan Vrhbosanska, President of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Apostolic Manager of the Military Ordinary in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Introducing the Eucharistic celebration, Msgr. Vukšić recalled that the right should always be in the service of justice, and justice in the service of love. Looking back at the Almighty texts, Msgr. In a commemorative homily, Vukšić recalled that Jesus identified himself with the poor, the sick, the slaves, that is, with every person in need. He also expects them to send them, which is not equally emphasized. He emphasized that the disciples of Jesus are called to live, proclaim and witness His peace, and "Peace of Jesus is peace in man's conscience, the peace of the soul and actions arising from the harmonized human intentions with God's will and His laws." He thanked everyone gathered at the Symposium for helping "to repeat the truth about the purposes of church goods and to strengthen her practice" and encourage the conversion "where there were different habits and behavior with church goods."

During the second day of the symposium, lectures were held: Regular, Extraordinary and Management of Greater Importance (Dr. Želimir Žuljević, Požega); Tasks and Obligations of the Manager of the Church Goods (Dr. Marija Dzinic, Zagreb); Managing the Goods of the Religious Institutions and Society of the Apostolic Life (Dr. Ratko Radišić, Zagreb); Regular Management of Parish Goods (M.Sc. Pero Milicevic, Mostar); Responsibility of the Manager of the Church Goods and the Responsibility of the Legal Entity (Mr. Marko Čubelić, Požega); Punishable Acts against Church Goods Management (Šimo Ivelj, Sarajevo); Compensation for the Damage Caused by Illegal Management of Church Goods (M.Sc. Ante Rako, Split).

The symposium was closed with a final discussion confirming the current topic of this year's symposium, because in the daily life of individual (over) dioceses and religious communities, new issues of the material goods of the Church arise, or especially in the management of church goods.

Text: Croatian Canonist Society

Photo: Davor Krajinović, Catholic Weekly; KTA BK BiH; Croatian Canonist Society