Original scientific paper
ECCLESIASTICAL ASSOCIATIONS FROM ISTRIA – ZBOR SVEĆENIKA SV. PAVLA ZA ISTRU [COLLEGE OF ST. PAULS CLERICS FOR ISTRIA] AND DRUŠTVO SVEĆENIKA SV. ĆIRILA I METODA U PAZINU [ASSOCIATION OF CLERICS OF ST. CYRIL AND METOD IN PAZIN](1945-1952)
Stipan TROGRLIĆ
Abstract
Treaty between representatives of National Liberation Movement (Narodno oslobodilački pokret, i.e. NOP) and Božo Milanović, informal representative of Croatian clergy in Istria, signed in Trieste on 16th July 1945, anticipated that clergy could organize their society that would represent clergy before state offi cials. Thus, because of the activities of Zbor svećenika sv. Pavla za Istru [College of St. Pauls clerics for Istria], which was founded in Pazin on 31st July 1945, Church managed to acquire edifi ce of former Pupil’s House in order to adapt it for Seminary. This seminary, together with gymnasium, was opened in December 1945. Moreover, soon state authorities allowed publication of spiritual magazine, and cultural-educational society Društvo sv. Mohora za Istru [Society of St. Mohor for Istria] was permitted to distribute praying books and religious literature. During the intensive diplomatic struggle for accession of Istria to Croatia (1945-1947) clerics from the College maintained that they have to support the new authorities regarding this policy, and therefore clergy at that time did not criticize communist authorities. However, after signing the Paris Peace Treaties (10th February 1947) and successful conclusion of these diplomatic activities, part of clergy from the College started to criticize the new authorities. Therefore, College did not support Five-Year-Plan. The authorities recognized this as hostile act of clergy and therefore started to proscribe members of the College. By the same token, murder of priest Miroslav Bulešić during chrism festivity in Lanišće (24th August 1947), as well as forbiddance of the College activities, clearly showed that communist authorities did not tolerate any disagreement. Clergy of Istria was aware that such clash could harm some of existing projects – i.e.
seminary – and thus most of them tried to stay cooperative. Such attitude enabled rehabilitation of the College, but now under the name Društvo sv. Ćirila i Metoda u Pazinu [Association of clerics of St. Cyril and Metod in Pazin]. This was the only society of clergy with permission of the local bishop. Although communist authorities wanted to control clergy in Istria through control over the Association, they did not succeed. On the other hand, because of this cooperation, Church in Istria had some privileges in comparison to
other parts of Croatia, but only until 1954.
Keywords
cleric associations; Church authorities; Božo Milanović; government; Dragutin Nežić; repression
Hrčak ID:
28059
URI
Publication date:
20.6.2008.
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