Croatia: Bishop shoots man instead of wild boar

One of the hardest things in life is to practise what you preach. Vjekoslav Huzjak is well known for his passion for hunting. But now the Croatian bishop has drawn criticism with a consequential misfire — instead of a wild boar, the 58-year-old hits a fellow hobby hunter.

Hunting accident draws public attention

In Croatia, this hunting accident involving a Catholic bishop is causing a public stir. As the newspaper «Vecernji List» reported, the Diocesan Bishop of Bjelovar-Krizevci, Vjekoslav Huzjak, apparently accidentally shot another hobby hunter standing some 100 metres away during a wild boar hunt last Friday. The 64-year-old victim was taken to hospital with a serious thigh injury but is not in a life-threatening condition, according to police. Such incidents are not isolated cases — crime surrounding hobby hunting is widespread.

The police confirmed the hunting accident without naming the bishop. A criminal investigation will be opened against the bishop, who had allegedly been trying to shoot a boar, according to a statement.

Criticism on social media

Huzjak's diocese of Bjelovar-Krizevci published a statement on the incident, in which the bishop expressed “his deep regret about what happened and wishes the injured hobby hunter a speedy recovery.” Church circles were quoted as saying: “This is something unusual and nothing like this has ever happened in the recent history of our Church.”

According to local media, Bishop Huzjak is known as an avid hobby hunter. On social media, the Catholic clergyman mostly faced criticism over the consequential misshot. "That's what happens when priests hold a rifle instead of staying at the altar – Amen!", wrote one woman on Facebook. One man ranted: "What is a bishop doing out hunting? Killing God's creatures? Isn't that against his ministry and the faith he preaches?" Why hobby hunting is fundamentally a animal welfare problem is shown in the dossier of the same name.