STA, 3 April 2022 - Novo Mesto Bishop Andrej Saje, the head of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference, apologised on Sunday to the victims of sexual abuse by clergy on behalf of the Catholic Church in Slovenia, as he marked the day of prayer for such victims.

Listening and hearing, protecting and providing support, both in an emotional and spiritual sense, are key factors, he said in a statement shared on the Church's website.

"No victim is to blame for the evil that was done to them and should never have happened. The full responsibility lies with the perpetrator, and I advocate zero tolerance of any abuse. I express my compassion to the victims and their families," he said.

Saje said he was aware that statements and regulations cannot heal the wounds and pain of individuals, and that unless the perpetrators, or at least those who knew of the abuses, are held accountable, it will be difficult for the victims to live freely.

The Church has made important steps in the past in detecting and sanctioning the abuses, but the road to preventing unacceptable wrongdoing is long and challenging, he said, committing to specific measures to create a safe environment.

The Church will strive for changes to its structures so that they serve people first and foremost, the protection of the person's dignity and spiritual progress, he added.

Last October, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference decided that the day of prayer and reconciliation for sexual abuse victims in the Church and society will be marked every year on Passion Sunday, which is observed today. Believers have been urged to say a prayer for the victims during the Sunday mass and, if possible, light a candle to express solidarity with them.

The Catholic advocacy group for the victims Dovolj.je (It's Enough) has been noting that the Church still needs to do more. They recently called for the inception of a properly-funded independent commission to investigate cases of suspected sex abuse by clergy.

STA, 26 January 2022 - Maksimilijan Matjaž, the Bishop of Celje, has founded an office to admit complaints by and monitor the victims of sexual abuse committed by the clergy and other members of religious life in a bid to help the victims and prevent repeat of this type of crime.

A post on the website of the Celje Diocese announcing the formation of the new office refers to an apostolic letter by Pope Francis of May 2019 instructing dioceses to form one or more permanent systems easily accessible to the public to report sexual abuse committed by the clergy or members of consecrated life or societies of apostolic life.

The Celje Diocese office will be headquartered at the Laško address of lawyer Pavel Teršek. It will operate based on the attached statute, in accordance with the mentioned apostolic letter, guidelines for the protection of children, minors and vulnerable adults in the Slovenian Catholic Church, and other binding documents of the Church issued or to be issued by the Holy See and the Slovenian Bishops' Conference concerning sexual abuse committed by clerics or members of the institutions of consecrated life or of the societies of apostolic life, reads the release.

Just yesterday a Catholic advocacy for victims of sexual abuse in the Church that is led by a priest who was victim of abuse himself called for appointing an independent commission comprising individuals of high moral integrity to investigate and crack down on the abuse as soon as possible.

STA, 11 November 2021 - A priest from the archdiocese of Maribor has been deprived of priesthood after a Vatican church court has found him guilty of sexual abuse of an underage person, the archdiocese says on its website.

Anton Kmet lost all rights stemming from priesthood in June, and the measure was confirmed by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith in October.

The priest was then informed that the procedure was completed on 22 October, "on which day all rights stemming from being ordained priest ceased".

According to media reports, Kmet last served as priest in Makole and also worked in the parish of Studenice, but was dismissed from both jobs in 2019 when an investigation at the church court started.

Janez Lesnika from the archdiocese told newspaper Večer at the time that Kmet was suspected of criminal acts committed while serving as chaplain in Ljutomer in 1998-2001.

Tabloid Slovenske Novice reported he had sexually harassed an underage girl during a trip to the coast, an allegation Koper criminal police opened an investigation into.

However, Lesnika could not tell the STA today whether Kmet had been defrocked because of this criminal act, explaining the procedure before the church court was not open.

The media have also reported that Kmet was sentenced to ten months in prison in 2010 for groping two girls, and served the sentence.

STA, 17 November 2020 - The Slovenian Catholic Church has updated its guidelines for the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals against sexual abuse, explicitly ordering all who work for the Church to report any suspicion of sexual abuse to the authorities. The Church's own investigation cannot be launched before a report to state authorities.

Compared to guidelines used until now, the new document says, for the first time, that "a religious worker is obligated to report to the Social Services, the police or the State Prosecution any suspicion, allegation or information of sexual abuse (irrespective of the time of the event)... at the earliest possible time".

The Church had previously held that sexual abuse allegations do not have to be reported in every case, especially when this goes against the wishes of the victim. Neither did previous guidelines include explicit instructions on reporting to state authorities.

"No form of autonomous and legal Church proceedings of investigation and resolution of sexual abuse may begin before it is reported to state authorities," the new guidelines say.

The document states that "religious workers", which involves the clergy as well as volunteers working for the Church, must cooperate proactively with state authorities in investigations and other proceedings related to the reported sexual abuse.

Adopted by the Slovenian Bishops' Conference on 5 October, the document is an overhaul of the 2014 guidelines, which were an update of the first guidelines adopted in 2006.

Compared to the 2014 document, the guidelines also lay down in more detail the Church legal proceedings in such cases, and provide more detailed instructions on reporting within the Church.

Among other things, the new guidelines mark the launch of a fund established in January to finance psychological aid to alleged victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests and other religious workers.

In accepting this sort of help, the alleged victims sign a statement that the use of these funds does not prejudice any Church law, criminal law or damages proceedings.

STA, 28 October 2020 - The Commission for Justice and Peace (Komisija Pravičnost in mir) of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference has warned in a statement ahead of All Saints' Day that there is a danger of a growing culture of disregard for human life. It expressed support for everybody fighting for human lives in the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of a part of political opposition.

"Life takes precedence over ideology and the fight for power," the commission has said, adding that a part of the opposition invests a lot more effort into climbing back to power than in helping save lives and preserve health of Slovenians.

"In this situation, this is a perverse political practice because it does not focus on people and the common good, but on interests of certain groups," the commission said in the statement issued on Wednesday.

Citizens rightly expect a different approach: leaders joining forces in key issues and expressing unity and solidarity in order to save lives despite holding diverging views and interests. "Effort for the common good is a top commandment and a norm of any responsible politics and civil position."

Part of the left-leaning opposition took issue with this, saying that the Catholic Church in Slovenia was undermining its own credibility with such statements.

The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) said it was "appalled and disappointed with the unwarranted insinuations about the bad intentions of the opposition".

The party would like the Church to deal with its primary mission, instead of undermining its own credibility with "cheap politicising" and showing its lack of understanding of democracy and democratic processes, it added.

The commission is also worried about "acquiescence or even inciting of Friday protests", saying that protests would soon become insignificant had "they not had support from the main public media, above all RTV Slovenija".

The Left said that the statement represented ideological fight against the protesters, RTV Slovenija and the opposition.

"With such moves, the leadership of the Slovenian Roman Catholic Church is doing harm mostly to believers and the Church itself, as such divisive addresses only resonate as an extension of the ruling party SDS," it added.

The commission is also worried because of what it feels is unresponsiveness of the public opinion in the face of incitement to violence and murders of political opponents.

"Culture of death - as Pope John Paul II labelled disregard for human life - is reflected in a peculiar way by the attitude of a part of our politicians toward decent burial of victims found in the graves of war and post-war mass killings perpetrated by Communist revolutionaries."

The commission also noted that All Saints' Day will not be commemorated by group religious events.

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STA, 15 August 2020 - Special masses were held around the country on Saturday to mark the Feast of the Assumption, one of the main Christian holidays and a national holiday in Slovenia since 1992. Marked by coronavirus measures, the ceremonies drew less people than usually, with the main mass attended by some 3,000 believers, 2,000 less than last year.

 There are several hundred churches in Slovenia devoted to the Virgin Mary and several of them, mostly older ones, especially to Mary's "assumption of body and soul into heavenly glory".

Slovenian bishops symbolically entrusted the Slovenian nation into Mary's hands in 1992 and that year 15 August also became a bank holiday, marked by pilgrimages.

The main celebration of the Assumption is traditionally held at the Brezje Basilica of Mary Help of Christians (Marija Pomagaj Brezje), one of Slovenia's holiest and most popular pilgrimage sites, where mass was given by Cardinal Franc Rode along with Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the naming of Brezje as the Slovenian National Shrine Mary Help of Christians.

Holy masses, mostly delivered by Slovenian bishops, were held today at the majority of the main sites of Marian devotion in the country, including at the Basilica of the Virgin Protectress in the village of Ptujska Gora, another popular pilgrimage site. Maribor Archbishop Alojzij Cvikl gave mass there.

In Kranj, mass was delivered by the titular archbishop of Beneventum and apostolic nuncio to Iraq Mitja Leskovar, while retired Ljubljana Archbishop Anton Stres addressed worshippers at the Church of St Mary at Svete Gore near Bistrica of Sotli.

The ceremonies were adjusted to the epidemiological situation and measures aiming to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, with many of the masses, including at Brezje and Ptujska Gora, held outdoors.

The Slovenian Bishops' Conference has called for the observing of instructions issued by Slovenian bishops and in place since 21 July 2020. Priests and worshippers are urged to respect the 1.5-metre gap, disinfect their hands and use protective masks indoors. Traditional processions and fairs held at some locations have been cancelled.

The elderly, people with health conditions and all belonging to risk groups have been invited to attend holy mass in their home parish or tune in via TV, the Bishops' Conference told the STA.

STA, 2 June 2020 - The Catholic Church issued new guidelines on Monday after the epidemic officially ended in Slovenia. Priests will no longer stream masses online and healthy believers may attend holy mass without face masks if the appropriate distance of 1.5 metres can be kept between them.

The distancing rule does not apply to members of the same household, while children do not have to wear masks but have to observe the same social distancing rules as in schools, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference decided.

Holy water must not be used, instead hand disinfectants must be available to believers at church entries. Churches must be thoroughly aired after every mass. Those open also outside mass hours must be regularly cleaned and aired.

Confession is only possible if appropriate protective guards are fitted in the confessional, the believer must wear a mask and disinfect their hands. Confessions via telephone or the web remain prohibited.

Funerals are allowed under the same state-issued assembly restrictions. Currently public gatherings of about 200 people in the open are allowed in Slovenia.

STA, 11 April 2020 - Alojz Uran, who served as the Archbishop of Ljubljana between 2004 and 2009, has died at the age of 75, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference announced on Saturday.

Uran was named the Archbishop of Ljubljana in October 2004, succeeding Archbishop Franc Rode, who became the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

He resigned in November 2009, officially due to health problems, to be succeeded by the coadjutor archbishop of Maribor, Anton Stres.

It became public only later that Uran was instructed by the Holy See to withdraw from public life. Under a decree from the Congregation for Bishops in Rome, he left Slovenia to live and work in Trieste.

He was allowed to return to Slovenia in 2015, where he performed pastoral activities and participated in other activities of the local church. His health deteriorated in recent years and his activities were very limited.

Born in Ljubljana, Uran was ordained to the priesthood in June 1970, at the age of 25. Before being appointed the Archbishop of Ljubljana, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of Ljubljana since 1992.

The Slovenian Bishops' Conference said that due to the coronavirus epidemic, Uran's funeral will be held in family circle in Ljubljana Cathedral. A memorial service will be held at a later date, when the end of the epidemic is declared.

Condolences have already been expressed by Prime Minister Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor.

Janša told Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore over the phone that with his openness and tireless will, Uran had been an important building element in the Slovenian Catholic Church.

"The Catholic public has lost a dedicated shepherd who acted for the benefit of the Slovenian nation," the prime minister was quoted by the Government Communication Office.

Pahor also expressed his sincere condolences over Uran's death to Archbishop Zore and the Slovenian Bishops' Conference.

Zore said in a video statement published on the website of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference said that Uran had a good and joyful heart, adding that he was thankful for the "gift of Uran's life, spirituality and bishophood."

The Ljubljana archbishop noted that Uran had been very ill and had undergone several surgeries in the last three months, and that he had spent his last days in solitude. "He accepted this as part of his offerings," he added.

STA, 18 January 2020 - Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore called on sexual abuse victims within the Slovenian Roman Catholic Church to report the crimes and dismissed accusations of Church inactivity, as he spoke for the Odmevi news show on Friday evening.

Urging the victims to report abuse cases, Zore said that such actions would help "remove all that does not belong in the Church".

The Dovolj.je (It's Enough) NGO, a Catholic civil society group dedicated to fighting sexual abuse in the Church, has recently accused the institution of its persistent failure to tackle sexual abuse allegations against members of the clergy or even its systemic cover-up.

The group has thus urged a couple of senior clerics to step down, including Zore, Slovenia's top cleric.

Zore said that such accusations were general statements reflecting an exaggerated reaction, since the Church had been active in addressing the issue.

He pointed out that it had dealt with every single case that was brought to its knowledge, involving the police and providing support for the victims.

The Ljubljana archbishop stressed that there had not been any reports of alleged cover-ups, adding that the Ljubljana Archdiocese had received a couple of sexual abuse reports since the summer.

Zore said that the issue had been weighing him down, since it was difficult to carry the burden and faith of the victims, their abuse and turmoil, but he was also burdened by the faith of the perpetrators since the Church had to take care of those priests as well.

"You cannot just simply write them off," he said, adding that the situation had tarnished the reputation of innocent priests as well.

Igor Vovk, a senior member of the Dovolj.je (It's Enough) group, told the press this week that the Church kept adopting and updating recommendations on how church workers should deal with allegations of sexual abuse, but "everything remains dead ink on paper".

The only one who has seriously dealt with the situation so far is Murska Sobota Archbishop Peter Štumpf, who stripped a priest of his status upon finding out he has been accused of sexual abuse, Vovk added.

Štumpf expressed support for Zore this week, though, declaring that "if Archbishop Zore resigns, Archbishop Štumpf resigns as well" and praising Zore's efforts in tackling the issue.

STA, 15 January 2020 - A Catholic civil society group dedicated to fighting sexual abuse in the Slovenian Roman Catholic Church has called for the resignation of Slovenia's most senior cleric, Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore, due to the church's persistent failure to tackle sexual abuse allegations against members of the clergy.

The church keeps adopting and updating recommendations on how church workers should deal with allegations of sexual abuse, but "everything remains dead ink on paper", said Igor Vovk, a senior member of the Dovolj.je (It's Enough) group and director of the Catholic pro-life NGO Zavod Iskreni.

The group has so far received 38 reports by victims against 22 priests. And while some have been handled adequately, in particular in the Murska Sobota Diocese, others continue to be ignored, it said.

It highlighted the case of priest Jože Planinšek, the director of the pastoral and youth centre Saint Joseph Home in Celje, who had been reported by five victims for sexual assault dating between 1990 and 2010. "He is still doing his job as if nothing has happened," priest Janez Cerar said.

Roman Završek, an attorney, said five criminal charges had been filed against the priest. Four have been thrown out due to the statute of limitations and one is still being processed.

The group had asked the Slovenian Lazarists, of which he is a member, to ignore the statute of limitations in internal church procedures but the request has been ignored. It has therefore urged the head of the Slovenian Lazarists, Tomaž Mavrič, to step down as well.

In general, a lot of cases of sexual abuse have become statute-barred under church law, which is why Dovolj.je is urging the church to ignore the statute of limitations at least in the specific cases brought to their attention.

Dovolj.je also wants the church to disband its task force for the resolution of sexual abuse claims since it is not doing its job and is trying to downplay the allegations. Instead, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference should form an independent commission with lay members.

The Slovenian Bishops' Conference rejected the call for the archbishop's resignation as "unfounded" and said it was under his chairmanship of the conference that the church has continued taking action against sexual abuse.

It listed instructions on zero-tolerance to sexual abuse adopted in April 2019 and recently updated guidelines for conduct in the event of sexual abuse claims which require that bishops report any suspicion of sexual abuse to law enforcement - precisely the guidelines that Dovolj.je labelled as dead ink on paper - as important steps in this direction.

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