Community worker takes St Johns Park priest to court over defamation claims

Tonci PRUSAC

SYDNEY - A bitter dispute that has been brewing for several years in Sydney's Croatian community is set to reach its climax in the New South Wales Supreme Court, after it was revealed this week that a well known Croatian community worker had filed a defamation suit against a Croatian Franciscan priest from Sydney.    

This action was taken by Vesna Tenodi, who has been instrumental in the formation of ModroGorje, a wellness centre which is intended to be utilised by members of the NSW Croatian community.    

In fact, according to Tenodi, it is specifically because of ModroGorje and a Zagreb Jesuit priest, that she has decided to act on her own and take the very serious step of suing western Sydney based Franciscan priest, Marijan Glamocak, as well as the St Johns Park parish, for defamation and slander.    

Although she was unwilling to elaborate on the defamation case, due to legal reasons, she did however confirm the serious action was taken.    

''Yes, my solicitor Barrie Goldsmith is the best Australian defamation lawyer and on the 27th of March 2008, he filed a defamation claim at the Supreme Court of New South Wales, against a Franciscan Marijan Glamocak and his church organisation in the Sydney suburb of St Johns Park.    

''I'm deeply hurt and very distressed, but I'm happy that we live in a country where law protects us from defamation,'' she said.

When contacted by the 'Croatian Herald', during the week, Fra Glamocak refused to make a comment, stating he was simply unable to make any statement'.      

Although both Tenodi and Fra Glamocak were unwilling to reveal the exact nature of their long running dispute, it is widely believed in the Sydney Croatian community that the problem stems from the fact that in 2005 CACC received a grant from Federal Government, enabling it to function as a community services body.    

Fra. Glamocak's St John's Park parish based welfare organisation, meanwhile, failed in its application and as a result, although it is still operating today, it is doing so in a reduced capacity.