Bishop Komarica said that after being exiled during the war, in the post-war period Catholics have constantly faced obstacles in returning to their pre-war settlements
Catholics in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) are systematically exposed to injustice and discrimination in almost all areas of the country where they are a minority, and the guilt for such a situation is on BiH politicians, including those from the Croatian nationality, said on Monday the Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica, Tportal reported on May 29, 2017.
He also warned that last year over 15.000 Catholics, mostly youth, left Bosnia-Herzegovina. In an interview for the Klix portal, Bishop Komarica said that after being exiled during the war, in the post-war period Catholics have constantly faced obstacles in returning to their pre-war settlements.
“This is not the case only in the Serb-run Republika Srpska, but also in, for example, Sanski Most and Ključ, where Catholics were not given political or economic means to return and work their land and build their homes This dirty game was played by domestic politicians, even those from the Croatian people, some from BiH, some from Croatia, as did not enable a sustainable return and dignified life in their own houses and villages. Since the end of the war I have implored politicians to help these people,” said the Banja Luka Bishop.
He added it is thus his duty, but also the duty of all others to unmask the hypocritical actions of politicians and clearly show what they do to ordinary people when they allow their rights to be denied.
“Our politicians have grown arrogant, aided by other politicians who manipulate them into being small deities and masters of the fates of individuals and nations. This is not acceptable. This is our defeat, if we keep silent. We have to speak out, otherwise we have betrayed ourselves,” said Komarica.
He confirmed the Catholic Church has information that just in 2016 over 15.000 Catholics, mostly youth, left BiH and added this is not an overstatement but a worrisome proof of the realistic state of the country turning increasingly into a “home for the elderly.”
“There is nothing to be overstated. This is concrete data collected every year. Every priest has a duty to put together a list of worshippers at the end of the year. This is, more or less, a home for the elderly and the children have scattered. And the ones that stay need help from us all year long, as many do not have firewood for the winter,” warned Bishop Komarica.