Croatian Bishops-Gynaecologists Conquer Social Networks

Recent conference of gynaecologists draws unusual level of attention.

A conference of gynaecologists recently took place in Topusko in Croatia. Of course, conferences of physicians and medical professionals are not anything out of the ordinary, and they very rarely draw attention of wider public. However, this conference was quite unusual. It was organized under the unlikely auspices of, among others, high-ranking dignitaries of the Catholic Church in Croatia, including the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and Bishop of Sisak Vlado Košić.

The Catholic Church in Croatia very rarely advocates progressive positions, and those concerning the issues of sexuality are definitely not progressive. Therefore, the fact that a major medical conference on gynaecology was organized under the auspices of two very conservative church dignitaries drew a great deal of attention on social networks.

As is usual in such situations, many social media users decided to make fun of the whole event and post a series of funny messages commenting on the issue. This occasion was no different.

“Dear bishops, is there sacramental bread for the day after?” asked one user. “Pap test now has a completely different meaning”, wrote another (“papa” is Croatian word for “pope”). “Do I have to take my daughter to take vaccination against HPV to a gynaecologist, or should I go to the cathedral” was another comment.

And it was not just women who reacted. “When my girlfriend gets pregnant, should I take her to a hospital or to a church? Or perhaps to a stable to wait for the Three Kings?” wrote one male user.

And then there were photos:

Gynaecological Department in Croatia (because no one knows more about female reproductive system than those who believe in immaculate conception)