Priest rents out apartments in a church in Neum and sees nothing unusual about it

(Patria) - Every year there is more and more tourist accommodation, whether it is luxury apartments, converted garages or family apartments rented out during the summer months.

Many have realised how easy it is to earn money and gain an additional source of income by renting out apartments, and it seems that church officials are following this trend, reports Index.hr

Namely, in the Church of St. Nicholas in Neum, there are apartments that have been rented to tourists since this year. Right next to the main entrance to the church, there is a sign reading "Zvijezda mora – apartments" that guides tourists through a passage to the rear, where accommodation with a sea view is located.

Excellent tourist ratings

As stated on the rental websites, the apartments are located just 500 metres from the sea, and guests can choose from nine apartments, the smallest being a studio of 22 square metres, while the largest is a three-bedroom apartment with a balcony spanning 165 square metres.

The price of the studio during August ranges from 99 euros per night, while guests will need to pay 916 euros for four nights in the large apartment. It appears that tourists are satisfied with the accommodation, rating it 9.3.

It is also emphasised that the accommodation is located next to the church and has free parking and Wi-Fi.

Priest: Nothing unusual

Regarding this business venture in the only Bosnian-Herzegovinian town with access to the sea, Index.hr journalists spoke with priest Mladen Šutalo, who, according to the register, is listed as the owner of the Zvijezda mora apartments. "The Parish of Our Lady of Health in Neum is the only parish on the Adriatic Sea, and within the parish is the Church of St. Nicholas, Bishop, beneath which there are three more floors with separate entrances.

On two floors, there were unrenovated rooms (9), which we renovated last year and this year and began renting them out to people who gladly visit this place, especially during the summer days. On the second floor, there is also an amphitheatre, and the third floor consists of basement rooms. Nothing unusual, as I believe you know that other church institutions also have the same/similar spaces that they rent out and live off, depending on where they are located," said Don Mladen Šutalo.

"Funds will go towards maintaining church buildings"

Although during the telephone conversation with Index.hr he said he would gladly answer journalists' questions in writing, the journalists received somewhat terse answers, and he did not answer the question about what money the apartments were equipped with. Although he is listed as the owner in the register, he claims the apartments are not his property.

"The apartments are the property of the Parish of Our Lady of Health in Neum, from which, God willing, the parish will have its own funds for the maintenance of church buildings on the parish grounds. We only started operations in mid-July this year. The apartments are looked after by people responsible for their maintenance, and they receive financial compensation for this," he said, adding: "A priest does not come to a parish voluntarily, but by decree of the local bishop.

Upon arriving at the parish, he assumes full responsibility for managing the material goods of that parish. Every priest should take care of the parish in the best possible way." Not the first time Although apartments in church premises are not seen every day, this is not the first time church officials have implemented similar business ideas, which have also been approved by the diocese in Croatia. A few years ago in Dubrovnik, nuns rented out rooms, while the parish priest from Starigrad Paklenica ran a full-fledged commercial campsite in his parish. Although this way of doing business is legal, the question is whether the church premises could have served people in need instead of being used for tourist rentals.