Mesić intervenes over bishop’s conduct

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic says he will probably react in the Vatican over the actions of a bishop. Military chaplain and bishop Jurij Jezerinac has a practice of reading a hate-filled poem ending with the ustasha greeting of “For the Fatherland Ready”, Zagreb media reports. Mesic intervenes over bishop’s conduct Mesic told Croatian radio that the Vatican needed to pay closer attention to Jezerinac. “Is his place in politics or in the army which does not recognize politics?” Mesic wondered. This is not the first time that the president has reacted to the bishop’s behavior. Just before the last elections, he threatened to dismiss the bishop, when Jezerinac called the promises of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) “satanic”. "I’ve already spoken to the papal nuncio, and I will probably have to intervene in the Holy See. I cannot allow someone who is in the army to break certain rules. There is no place for politics in the army. As long as he is in the army, he cannot meddle in politics,” Mesic stressed. He said that there was a chance that Jezerinac could be forbidden from entering Croatian Army barracks, but, first of all, he expected the church to react. "If Jezerinac continues to act in this manner, his expulsion from the army is the most extreme measure… The church should renounce such statements loud and clear. The church’s silence on this matter cannot be tolerated, I can’t understand why the church is keeping quiet,” Mesic said. Stjepan Mesic (FoNet, archive)

Mesić intervenes over bishop’s conduct

Mesić told Croatian radio that the Vatican needed to pay closer attention to Jezerinac.

“Is his place in politics or in the army which does not recognize politics?” Mesić wondered.

This is not the first time that the president has reacted to the bishop’s behavior. Just before the last elections, he threatened to dismiss the bishop, when Jezerinac called the promises of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) “satanic”.

"I’ve already spoken to the papal nuncio, and I will probably have to intervene in the Holy See. I cannot allow someone who is in the army to break certain rules. There is no place for politics in the army. As long as he is in the army, he cannot meddle in politics,” Mesić stressed.

He said that there was a chance that Jezerinac could be forbidden from entering Croatian Army barracks, but, first of all, he expected the church to react.

"If Jezerinac continues to act in this manner, his expulsion from the army is the most extreme measure… The church should renounce such statements loud and clear. The church’s silence on this matter cannot be tolerated, I can’t understand why the church is keeping quiet,” Mesić said.