THE PROPERTY OF AKOVO-OSIJEK DIOCESE

It is more blessed to give than to receive

Kruno Kartus
In Strossmayer Street in Osijek the Catholic church furnished a Centre for the homeless "Dom Sv.
Vinka", which receives poor people of Osijek for the night and day stay. The charity organization
Caritas of akovo-Osijek archdiocese, which supervises this centre, provides three meals a day.
There are 24 beds, three or four in one room. And only across the road, some thirty meters further
away, in the same street, in the centre of the city, a building of archbishop vicarage is to be opened
any time soon. It is a luxurious building of 5000 square meters.
The first approximated sum of expenses for the readjustment of a 19 th century building, which was
previously a hospital for pulmonary diseases, into a vicarage with a newly built annex in the yard, is
24 million kuna. Today the sum has been almost doubled to 50 million kuna. When the vicarage is
proclaimed as bearing a great importance for the city of Osijek, in the heart of Slavonija, one of the
Croatian least developed counties, the archdiocese started receiving big donations. The building is
obtained for free,through the process of confiscated property return. The Osijek-Baranja County
has immediately donated 300, 000 kuna in 2007, and the following year another 200, 000 kuna,
while the city of Osijek also donated 300, 000 kuna. The heads of bishopric, like assistant bishop
uro Hrani, appealed in the media for the companies and private donors to participate. As a result
they received 100, 000 Euros from a German immigrant.
With that money, luxurious apartments, for two bishops and seven priests, are furnished, with the
reception room, kitchen, dining room, chapel and four guest rooms. The part for bureaucratic work
has also been planned, as were the rooms for the gatherings of youth and family, library, and the
space for publishing. Jutarnji list (Croatian daily newspaper), last year revealed that the flooring is
made of polished, steamed black locust wood, the bathrooms are furnished with porcelain and
tempered glass, with gold-plated taps, while the ceilings are decorated with gilded chandeliers. The
lift has been installed even though there is only one floor, while the banisters are made of oak, the
stairs of marble, and the hall tiles are specially cut to a particular size.
Luxury on the slopes of Krndija hill
Osijek-Baranja County is one of the most deprived regions of Croatia with destroyed industry, and
an unemployment rate of 27%. It is a habitat of the tenth of all unemployed in entire Croatia. Yet,
this hard predicament does not stop Catholic Church from showing off their wealth. As an example
of the Carmelite Monastery Sv. Josip, shows. It is placed on the hill surrounded with natural forests,
near the village of akovaka Breznica, borough of Levanjska Varo, on the south-east slopes of
Krdija hill. The monastery is surrounded by a two meter high brick wall. This edifice consists of
two side towers, paved access road, and a one floor square building which borders a spacey atrium
with garden in its interior.
During the research on the property of akovo-Osijek archdiocese in 2011, and at the beginning of
this year, done by t-portal (on-line news portal),we tried to enter the monastery on one summer
afternoon for sightseeing, but when we rang the bell, and old gentlemen appeared who introduced
himself as father of one of the nuns there. No, nobody wants to talk to the press, he kindly said
and laughed.
From outside, the nunnery resembles a castle with its size and exterior, while inside in luxurious

solitude, far away from the sight of the secular world, 22 nuns reside. The means for this building
came from local community, public enterprises, which inherently means from tax payers. The size
of this building is closely depicted with the fact that the construction lasted 14 years, starting in
1996 until the consecration in 2010.
Three-floor towers for 22 nuns
The nunnery, constructed illegally, is only later legalized, but with the towers two floors higher than
the height assigned in the building permit. The ground for the construction of nunnery was given
by the borough of Levanjska Varo, consisting 17 plots of plough-fields, not building plots.
That is why the Spatial settlement plan of Levanjska Varo borough of 2004 states that structures,
which are built outside the limits of building sites, are located in the area of the Carmelite nunnery
Sv. Josip, which is placed in north-east of the building area of Levanjska Varo. Despite this, the
Office for Spatial Planning of Osijek-Baranja County issued building permit to the Carmelite
nunnery Sv. Josip back in 1995.
The building permit allows a "one floor building with a cellar, accompanying content and a chapel
a monastery of a size 63x 41 meter to be built.
However, it is evident from the access road and our photographs that the towers are on three floors,
while the front building is on two floors, with added loft apartment.
After inquiring about the building higher than one floor, in the Ministry of Environmental
Protection, the construction inspection went to Breznica in 2011, but did not see the three floor
building. It has been established that the Law on spacial planning and construction has not been
violated, reported the Ministry spokesperson.
Sister Karmela, head of the nunnery, did not want to comment on height of the towers, in the
telephone interview. "We have all the documentation necessary regarding the construction of the
nunnery, but I have already told you we do not wish to give any information. There is nothing to
hide, but there is no need to write about it either."
Just for the comparison , this nunnery accommodates only 22 nuns, two persons less than a number
of beds in the Centre Sv. Vinko, for homeless people in Osijek, but abbess does not want to
comment on that either. "Everything is known about us to the ones who need to know. We do not
want to give any information to the press, because there is so much of information misuse in media
today. That is why we did not respond to your inquiries. How much space we have, and how this
space is used is the matter of this house, and not an issue for media", claims the abbess of barefoot
Carmelite nuns.
The Army, HEP (Croatian electrical utility), and INA (Croatian oil industry) in action
In summer of 1996 a corner stone for this nunnery has been laid with new donations immediately
following. First, the mechanization and soldiers of Croatian Army, then INA and HEP. During
May and June of 1996 an Engineer Corps of Osijek, Republic of Croatia, gave hand in building of
Carmelite nunnery of Sv. Josip in akovaka Breznica, specifically for the works of making the
access road, and for earthmoving and excavation works for the facility. The 37 th Engineer-pontoon
battalion, from the 2nd gathering place of akovo, was engaged ror the above mentioned works, it
is stated by the Ministry of Defence.
The commandant of the 2nd gathering place was at that time, now retired, general uro Deak, who
is now a president of the Hunting Association of Croatia. INA, then property of the state, does not
deny their participation in nunnery construction, but they just have never found any data on

donations for Carmelite nunnery Sv. Josip, while the HEP's public relations explain, in the
telephone interview, that they could not find any data on donations for this nunnery.
Nunnery was built in May 2010 and at the event of consecration archbishop Marin Sraki thanked
the Engineer Corps of Croatian Army, INA, HEP and borough of Levanjska Varo. The above
named were participants who, according to archbishop's words, "inweaved material and financial
help through donations, both in work and building materials from various companies", which
proves that all these donations were particularly important in the construction of this building.
Vast church forests
Marina Popija, director of Sunane ume (forest managment company), did not reveal how much
the company pays for concession of forests, to the church. Mrs Popija is a wife of Croatian exminister of Economy, active during the rule of HDZ party. The archdiocese received the forests
during his mandate.
"It is a business matter between Sunane ume and the akovo-Osijek archdiocese", says Popija in
her office on akovo promenade. According to the report handed in to FINA (Inland Revenue), the
overall income of Sunane ume in 2011 is 2. 244, 131 kuna, which may indicate how big the
concession is.
Four years before receiving the forest wealth, the archdiocese came into 260 acres of land,an
agricultural land nearby akovo, which the state handed over near the end of 2006. After the
contest, farmers were thrown off the land, where they already finished the autumn sowing, because
the concession has been approved to the agricultural company Osatina. Stjepan Karali, the
economist for the archdiocese, then gave a statement to the press that farmers "should have
renewed their contract back in August, which they missed to do, instead of which they did the
autumn sowing on their own accord, while they did not pay the lease, which lead to the breach of
contract.
Entries in national and local budgets
Besides handing over of this valuable property, the state regularly pays for renovation and
maintenance of sacral buildings, to the akovo-Osijek archdiocese. The Ministry of Culture
apportioned, in 2007 alone, 6 million kuna for renovation of buildings in Osijek-Baranja County.
Out of 29 real estates, 10 belong to the akovo-Osijek archbishopric, and for the renewal of those
2,3 million kuna has been assigned, which makes it more than a third of the entire sum. Only for the
bishop building in akovo, half a million kuna has been allotted, while the church of Sv. Petar i
Pavao in Osijek got almost the same amount, as did, for example, the old fort Tvra in Osijek.
Reports on project contracts on web pages of the Ministry of Culture show that similar happens
every year.
Osijek-Baranja County has allotted 548.000 kuna in just one go, in November 2010, all for forty
buildings belonging to akovo-Osijek archdiocese, while at the same time for the churches of other
religious groups 37.000 kuna was allotted all together. The affiliation between the ruling party of
the County HDSSB and the archbishopric is obvious. So much so, that archbishop Marin Sraki
in 2006 visits the founder of that party Branimir Glava in prison hospital. Glava was,at the time,
being prosecuted for the war crimes committed in Osijek in 1991, and he was convicted to eight
years in prison. He escaped justice, but ended in prison in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
City and the County do the financing, while Caritas collects donations
Considering that akovo- Osijek archdiocese unifies 192 legal entities, starting from the parishes

to Caritas, the financing varies considerably. With charitable action It is more blessed to give than
to receive, Caritas in Osijek invited the citizens to donate money and clothes for the poor and their
accomodation in the centre for homeless Sv. Vinko, which is managed by Caritas. During March
and April of this year, Caritas in Osijek received 31.000 kuna, and 50.000 kuna worth in clothes.
We asked the question on amount the archdiocese of akovo-Osijek allots to Caritas per year, but
to no avail. "We received your inquiry and forwarded it to our superiors", was the only information
we got from the spokesperson of the archdiocese, but we never got the answer to our question.
At the time of the charitable action It is more blessed to give than to receive, by Caritas in Osijek,
the city of Osijek had already decided to apportion 400 thousand kuna particularly for the
accomodation of homeless. At the same time the city government approved the funds for people's
kitchen and two more projects, that of Centre for Children 150.000 kuna, and Marriage and
Family Counselling Service 50.000 kuna.
"Does the archdiocese of akovo-Osijek finance the work of Caritas and with what amount of
money or value in clothes per year?, remains unanswered by the head office of the archdiocese and
regional Caritas, placed on the square of J.J. Strossmayer.
The contracts with Vatican from the time of Franjo Tuman rule
Nobody knows if the archdiocese gives any funds to Caritas, who are active in charity work on their
behalf. Because, after all the listed donations,the state also comes in. According to the data from
State Audit Office on the execution of state budget in 2010, Catholic Church received 316,7 million
kuna from the state.
Most of the means goes for the allowances for the clergy, building and maintenance of churches and
pastoral centres which are not on the list of cultural monuments. For the charity activity 265,2
million kuna is allotted, for the spiritual charge of Catholic worshippers and the members of army
and police forces 14, 2 million kuna. The maintenance and building of objects for the communal
purpose, destroyed in the war, in areas of special state care 8,9 million kuna. Decoration and
renovation of sacral buildings on the islands in the Adriatic and in the coastal area million kuna,
while the spiritual care in hospitals and social care institutions got alloted 1,4 million kuna. From
the current reserve of state budget yet another building of a church and function of religious centre
is paid for with 1,8 million kuna, reads the report of State Audit Office. For the comparison, during
the student protests for better schooling conditions, the Government stated that the studying at
universities on state budget would cost all the citizens 400 million kuna the most, but for this
purpose money cannot be provided to this day.
What is it that makes the influx of such big money and property into the Catholic Church possible?
In the summer of 1998, on October 9th, Jure Radi, then a vice president of Government ruled by
HDZ party, and the president of the State Committee for relations of religious groups, signed the
contract with Giulio Einaudi, Vatican ambassador. This contract makes all the listed above possible.
The contract between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia on economic issues, states almost
exclusive rights of the Catholic Church, while for Republic of Croatia, only obligations. It begins
with charity and gifts which the church receives freely and without tax control; the state needs to
give back all the property confiscated during the rule of ex-Yugoslavia, find replacement or pay the
equivalent in money. The state must pay from the state budget on a monthly basis an amount
corresponding to two average salaries gross, times the number of parishes. During the first ten years
Croatia was paying 20% more of this amount due to retirement of the part of clergy.
Maybe this is not enough? "To the recommendation of diocese bishop the government will consider,

allow and financially help special welfare programmes and projects of legal entities of the Catholic
Church,every year, the contract continues. The local governments need to adapt their town-planning
solutions to church needs, and contribute to the construction and renewal of church buildings.
This contract was signed in 1999 without participation of the general public in decision making, and
on the day of signing the text of this contract was not shown to the press.
These past 12 years Croatia has been paying millions and handing over the property according to
the contract signed by few members of HDZ party and clergy, under the coordination of Franjo
Tuman, the president of the party at that time. He died soon after the signing of this contract.
State does not even receive the financial reports
It is worth mentioning that in all five contracts between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia
nothing is for free. Monthly cost for spiritual charge amounts to 1,000 kuna: As allowance for the
Church serving in hospitals and institutions for general welfare, the Republic of Croatia will
provide the means, 1000 kuna for each hospital and institution per month, states the Contract on
spiritual charge in hospitals and other health institution, and social care institutions. Every year
pharmaceutical companies halt the medication deliveries to Croatian hospitals due to amounting
debts, still the state pays these kind of costs.
Religious Education in schools also burdens the state budget, because " the Republic of Croatia
ensures the means for teachers and educators...", as is prescribed by the Contract between the Holy
See and Republic of Croatia about cooperation in culture and education. Military Ordinary conducts
soul charging of Catholic worshippers, members of the Army and police forces, which is paid for
by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior. They have to ensure material conditions
necessary for the activities of Military Ordinary, first and foremost a decent headquarters for the
Military Ordinary and its curia, also an appropriate place for worship, special contract assigns this
as well.
Croatian bishop conference receives the money and distributes further on to archdioceses and other
legal entities, nevertheless the state cannot control this process. Even though Sanja Bach,
spokesperson of Ministry of Finances, claims that church provided their financial report for 2010,
the State Audit Office denies this: Legal persons of Catholic church do not deliver financial reports
to authorized institutions (FINA for Ministry of Finances and State Office for review), which are
regulated by the Act on accountancy of non-profit organizations. In FINA the general public can
not see these reports, in comparison to, for example private companies, whose annual financial
transactions can be seen by anyone.
And this is not all. FINA also can not work in its own territory. This can be observed on the case of
Archdiocese of akovo-Osijek which consists of 192 legal persons, while 160 never reported their
national insurance number (OIB) to the Ministry record. As a result FINA cannot search the data
base of reports. This makes the fact,that the financial reports are delivered, irrelevant, because they
are in this way invisible. This is how, for example, there is no OIB of the nunnery mentioned earlier,
the Carmelite nunnery of Sv. Josip, in the record, which makes it the last instance of finely
elaborated hierarchy out of state control.
"This research was done with the support of Danish network for investigative journalism
Scoop. Scoop is not responsible for the content of this text."