Državna politika razdvajanja svećenika Katoličke crkve u Bosni i Hercegovini na „pozitivne“ i „reakcionarne“ (1945-1963) // State policy of division of Catholic Church priests in Bosnia and Herzegovina into „positive“ and „reactionary“ (1945-1963)
Journal Title: Historijski pogledi/Historical views - Year 2021, Vol 4, Issue 6
Abstract
The illumination of the state policy of separating „positive“ from „negative“ priests of the Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most important issues in the scientific understanding of the position of this religious community during the first decades of existence of AVNOJ Yugoslavia. The post-war government in Bosnia and Herzegovina treated a large number of priests of the Catholic Church as real or potential enemies of the state. In addition to ideological reasons, which were more or less similar in all communist parties, the negative attitude of the CPY towards the Catholic Church was influenced by the fact that some priests supported the Ustasha movement during World War II. The justification for the negative attitude of party structures towards priests was argued most often in the documents of the Commission for Religious Affairs with the following reasons: that most priests supported the occupier and domestic traitors during the war; that they spread hostile propaganda against the national liberation movement; that they actively participated in the fight against the new social order; that they had committed war crimes and persecuted members of other faiths, and that they had been linked to criminal Ustasha emigration abroad. In addition to „negative“ priests, there were „positive“ priests that also acted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they were reported in the documents of the Commission for Religious Affairs. They did not agree to the policy of confrontation with the state and demanded the establishment of dialogue and co-operation between the Church and the state. Some of the most prominent representatives of this group of priests were: Fr Bono Ostojić, Ph.D. Karlo Karin, Fr Mile Leko, Fr Josip Markušić, Fr Serafin Dodig, Fr Kruno Misilo and others. Holders of „positive tendencies“ among the clergy, according to the Commission for Religious Affairs, understood the importance of establishing communication and contacts with state authorities and the harmfulness of the negative attitude of the Catholic Church towards the state. Their goal was to change the methods of solving problems between the Church and the state, and to build a path that would suit the interests of the priests of the Catholic Church and the interests of the state community, without interfering with the church's dogmatic canonical principles. The „differentiation“ of priests was treated as a positive result of the work of the new government, because, according to their assessments, in the first post-war years, representatives of religious communities had a hostile attitude towards the newly created socialist Yugoslav state. Therefore, the Commission for Religious Affairs (federal and republican) has continuously pointed out the importance of implementing a policy of „stratification and differentiation“ within religious communities. According to the observations of the Federal Commission for Religious Affairs, the post-war „differentiation“ among the priests happened primarily due to their attitudes regarding the relationship between the state and the Catholic Church. Some considered it desirable and useful to establish communication with the newly created authorities, while others maintained a negative attitude. In addition to these two groups, there was a third group that was undecided. When considering the biographical data of the priests of the Catholic Church proposed for state decorations, it can be stated that the authorities carefully took into account which priests would be on the list of candidates recommended for awards. A positive attitude towards the new socialist social order, active participation in the establishment of the Association of Catholic Priests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, loyalty, patriotism towards socialist Yugoslavia, and contribution to the development of the Association of Catholic Priests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, are some of the most important reasons for choosing candidates for awards. In the article, based on unpublished archival sources, the author contextualises the political circumstances and the circumstances in which the state policy of differentiation of „positive“ from „reactionary“ priests of the Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place, points out the reasons for and bearers of such policy, and analyses its expression and results. Also, the author presents the policy of awarding state recognitions and decorations to individual priests in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Authors and Affiliations
Denis Bećirović
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP701561
- DOI 10.52259/historijskipogledi.2021.4.6.71
- Views 49
- Downloads 0
Postdejtonsko traganje za pravdom: Suđenja za ratne zločine u Bosni i Hercegovini pred nadležnim sudovima // The post-Dayton search for justice: War crimes trials in Bosnia and Herzegovina before competent courts
The armed conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 1992 to 1995, which ended with the conclusion of the so-called The Dayton Peace Agreement was marked by serious violations of fundamental human rights and...
IZVJEŠTAJ/CONFERENCE REPORT AKTIVNOSTI CENTRA ZA ISTRAŽIVANJE MODERNE I SAVREMENE HISTORIJE TUZLA U 2018. GODINI // ACTIVITIES OF CENTER FOR RESEARCH OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY HISTORY TUZLA IN 2018.
IZVJEŠTAJ/CONFERENCE REPORT AKTIVNOSTI CENTRA ZA ISTRAŽIVANJE MODERNE I SAVREMENE HISTORIJE TUZLA U 2018. GODINI // ACTIVITIES OF CENTER FOR RESEARCH OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY HISTORY TUZLA IN 2018.
UČEŠĆE VOJSKE JUGOSLAVIJE U NAPADIMA NA SARAJEVO U DECEMBRU 1993. I JANUARU 1994. GODINE – OPERACIJA „PANCIR-2“//THE PARTICIPATION OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY IN THE ATTACKS ON SARAJEVO IN DECEMBER 1993 AND JANUARY 1994 – OPERATION “PANCIR-2”
Before the beginning of the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia had created, organized and armed a powerful military structure within the 2nd military area of the Yugoslav People’s Army, which was renamed in...
Informbirovska kriza i Bosna i Hercegovina (1948-1956) u historijskim izvorima i historiografiji // Informbiro crisis and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1948-1956) in historical sources and historiography
In terms of historiography, the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Second World War has been dealt with by many historians and scholars, dealing with and researching topics related to the economy, culture, the i...
Neki aspekti djelovanja vojske Jugoslavije u agresiji na Republiku Bosnu i Hercegovinu na području srednjeg Podrinja početkom 1993. godine // Some aspects of activity of the Army of Yugoslavia in the aggresion against Republic Bosnia and Herzegovina on the territory of Central Podrinje in the beginning of 1993
The presence of regular Yugoslav military forces in central Podrinje and their participation in the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina have been evident from the very beginnings. As there were no significant force...