NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The Holy See yesterday formally ratified a new accord with Croatia, which makes economic provisions for "reparation for the injustices to the Catholic Church caused in the past by the confiscation of ecclesiastical properties."

      The formal announcement of the new accord explained that the agreement gives the Church "the necessary means to pursue her pastoral activities" in Croatia today. The reparations were offered by the Croatian government in light of the moves by the former Communist government of Yugoslavia to seize property from the Church.

      Pope John Paul II today received the representatives of the Croatian bishops' conference who had helped to negotiate the new arrangement, which was signed in Zagreb in October. The Pope noted that in signing the pact the Croatian government had recognized "the importance of the Church to society."