Rad se bavi pitanjem dobivanja zemljišta za izgradnju katoličke
katedrale i pravoslavnog hrama u međuratnom Splitu. Na jasan
se način govori o tome kako je Srpska pravoslavna Crkva stekla
građevinsko zemljište za koje je u ime Biskupije splitske i makarske
najprije bilo zainteresirano Društvo za gradnju nove stolne crkve. Dok
su općinske vlasti nastojale iskazati objektivnost i ravnopravnost,
nastojeći raditi u interesu obiju crkvenih zajednica, državne su
vlasti u toj stvari pokazale vjersku pristranost te su isto zemljište,
bez natječaja i javne rasprave, potpuno netransparentno dodijelile
Srpskoj pravoslavnoj Crkvi za neznatan iznos. K tomu, doskora
je rečeno zemljište, koje je od doba hrvatskih narodnih vladara
pripadalo Katoličkoj crkvi, zamijenjeno daleko atraktivnijom zgradom
samostana sv. Marije de Taurello. Stoga je splitski primjer gradnje
katedrale i hrama dobar pokazatelj kako je tobožnja ravnopravnost
vjerskih zajednica zajamčena svim konfesijama u Kraljevini SHS
i Kraljevini Jugoslaviji Vidovdanskim ustavom, zapravo bila pusta
želja, koja je u stvarnosti funkcionirala vjerski pristrano i doista
sasvim drugačije.Contentions about the building site for Catholic cathedral
and Orthodox temple arose during the 1920s and 1930s. This
contention stems from the unilateral state decisions which were
not in compliance with the spirit of guaranteed religious equality
warranted by the Vidovdan Constitution of 1921. Namely, in the
attempts of The Association for building a new cathedral to buy a
part of state property next to the Theological Seminary\u27s garden,
a planned building site for a Catholic cathedral, the Serbian
Orthodox Church district in Split became involved. Ignoring the
public offer of The Association for building a new cathedral, the
Ministry of Finance, contrary to provisions of the law, without
tender and auction, sold the site for an insignificant amount to the
Serbian Orthodox Church. This transaction caused huge problems
to the Split municipal authorities because a new urban plan had
already been issued and this lot was designated for a park next
to the planned Catholic cathedral. Altering this urban plan, which
was the request of the Serbian Orthodox Church, would disrupt
the religious harmony and weaken the already delicate municipal
political balance. To the appeal of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
federal authorities from Belgrade became involved with written
requests to the municipal and regional authorities, urging them to
solve this problem as soon as possible. Thus, the municipal and
regional authorities attempted to find an appropriate building site
for the Orthodox monastery and make exchange of lots with the
Serbian Orthodox Church to the satisfaction of all parties involved.
The exchange of the lot owned by the Serbian Orthodox Church,
next to the Bishop\u27s Seminary, was suggested for the St. Marie
de Taurello abbey from the 13th century, which is located in the
center of the old city (within the ancient Diocletian\u27s Palace) and,
as a part of Church property, was then under the jurisdiction of
their church lawful endowment. Local authorities yielded under
the pressure of the federal and in an attempt to resolve the
dispute, they underestimated the real value of the property. The
value of the lot owned by the Serbian Orthodox Church, in only
six years increased 577 times, while the St. Marie de Taurello
abbey in the historic city center was declared as unprosperous,
and the swap was executed in secret. This swap was carried out
without consultation with the Catholic Church, which was for
centuries the real owner of the St. Marie de Taurello abbey and
the only party who could legally dispose with the named property.
In this manner, with a unilateral move by the Ministerial council
in Belgrade, direct material damage was caused to the Catholic
Church in favor of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Split, which
thereby resolved the issue of the building site for its temple,
whereas the issue of the building site for the Catholic cathedral
was postponed for some future time
