Croatian President Stipe Mesic threatened Monday to ban the Vatican-named bishop for the armed forces from entering military facilities unless he kept out of politics ahead of general elections."As far as it concerns Bishop (Juraj) Jezerinac I cannot sack him, but if he continues to interfere in campaigning...I can only ban him from entering military facilities," Mesic told national radio.
"It would be good if he doesn't force me to make such a move." Jezerinac, the main bishop of the Croatian armed forces, heads a group of army chaplains which is independent of the Croatian Catholic Church and is directly linked with the Vatican.
He caused a storm of controversy earlier this month with a scathing attack on the socialist opposition ahead of the Nov. 25 elections.
He said certain parties were "Satanic" in reference to the Social Democrats, or SDP.
Mesic immediately slammed the statement and called for a meeting with the Vatican apostolic delegate to Croatia. During the meeting last week the two sides agreed on the "need for the Church and priests not to interfere in campaigning."
The latest opinion polls show the SDP in a tight race with the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, which is close to the Catholic Church. Almost 90% of Croatia's 4.4 million people are Catholics. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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