The Croatian government has responded via social networks to criticisms from citizens who are dissatisfied with the fact that unlike for most of the budgetary users, funds for the Catholic Church in Croatia will not be reduced in 2012, explaining that the legal value of international agreements, including those with the Holy See, was above that of national legislation and had to be respected.
"The legal value of international treaties, including those with the Holy See, is above national legislation. We must respect our obligations," the government announced on Twitter. The government said that agreements with the Vatican were not written in stone, but that international treaties were above national legislation.
"We intend to respect the international agreements we signed. On the other hand, we are oriented to budget transparency, namely it must be clear how the state money is spent," the government said on Twitter.
According to the 2012 draft budget, most of the budgetary users will receive less money than in 2011. The ministries of health, agriculture, transport, and education suffered the biggest cuts. The ministries of labour and the pension system, foreign and European affairs, environmental protection, and war veterans will have more money than last year.
Under the international agreement with the Holy See, the Church in 2012 should receive the same amount from the budget as in 2011, namely HRK 245 million, while compensation to Catholic Church legal entities for the confiscated property, which previously amounted to HRK 5.5 million, has been increased to HRK 7.7 million.
According to budgetary projections, in 2013 the Church would receive five million kuna more than this year, namely HRK 250 million.
Croatia and the Holy See have signed a total of four treaties - one regulating cooperation in education and culture, one on the pastoral care for the Catholic faithful, members of the Croatian military and police forces, one regulating legal issues, and one regulating economic issues. The first three agreements entered into force on 9 April 1997 and the last became effective on 14 December 1998.
