Zagreb Archdiocese accused of delaying report of minor abuse

The Zagreb Archdiocese has been accused of delaying the reporting of a minor's abuse allegation against a priest for five years. Although the victim filed a complaint in 2021, the Archdiocese only submitted a formal report to the Zagreb police on October 9, 2024, following media inquiries.

Zagreb police confirmed they have received the report from the church legal entity and have launched a criminal investigation. Due to legal confidentiality, specific details of the investigation have not been released.

Reports indicate that following the initial 2021 complaint, the priest was temporarily relieved of his duties and banned from public activity. However, under the leadership of Archbishop Dražen Kutleša, the priest was later reassigned to roles as a parish vicar in September 2024 and as a chaplain in an institution in August 2024. These appointments and the previous dismissal were not included in the Archdiocese's official annual reviews of clerical appointments and dismissals.