Calvin Synod Herald, 1984 (84. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1984-08-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 5 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA and so brutally beaten up by the police that on March 1, 1984 he died in the Marosvasarhely hospital at the age of 43. When he was buried, 206 priests accompanied his coffin . . . □ Because of the increasing pressure, harrassment, intimidation, demotion, disciplinary actions, and fatal beatings — more and more capable pastors are forced to leave their posts, or even the country. In the last 4-5 years at least 10-12 Hungarian Reformed pastors “emigrated” from Romania to the West, including the son of one of the Hungarian Reformed Bishops. And the sheep is being scattered in Romania! As a result of this systematic and intentional deprivation of leadership in the minority churches, the Romanian Government tries to destroy the only remaining institution which could fulfill the socio-cultural needs of minorities and nurture their ethnic heritage. This genocide, this chauvinistic Romanianization is “The Truth about the National Question in Romania.” Let there be no mistake about it! RELIGIOUS SITUATION IN HUNGARY In regard to Hungary, the “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1983” — submitted to you by the Department of State — strikes positive notes: despite of purposeful undermining of the future of religion by the Communist State, 8.5 million out of a population of 10.7 million manifest some religious belief; church and state relation seems to be improving (Jesuit-staffed center for meditation, more liberal provisions for religious instruction to children, good access to religious materials, including Bibles and prayer books, etc.). This is true. But all major religious groups have headaches. In the Roman Catholic Church (5.25 million), the “basic community” movement is not so much a dissident organization, accusing the hierarchy of dogmatism and collaborationism, but rather claiming the “fresh air” of the Second Vatican Council which evidently has found closed doors in Hungary. In the Reformed (Calvinist) Church (2 million), the tendency of overdisciplining “disobedient” servants still causes problems as illustrated in the case of Dr. Joseph Pungur. When this missionary worker of the Reformed Church in Hungary could not return to Hungary in 1982, the Reformed Church in Hungary forbade. Dr. Pungur to wear the minister’s robe anywhere, doing any pastoral work, and revoked the Doctor of Philosophy degree which was awarded to him several years before, after satisfying all the requirements for such a degree . . . In the Lutheran Church (0.5 million), the upcoming VII. Assembly of World Lutheranism to be held in Budapest, provided an occasion to “analyse and slander” the theology of diakonia, the “official” theology of Protestantism in Hungary. The questions are raised: is it a theology or has it become an ideology? is it something that God requires or is it something that the State requires and the Church gladly renders, for it pays? However, the greatest religious problem in Hungary seems to be the spiritual vacuum of the nation. The high percentage of suicide, alcoholism, divorce and abortion is but symptoms of a national malaise which cannot be obliterated by daring economic reforms! SOME PRAGMATIC SUGGESTIONS In the last 7—10 years religious bodies expressed deep concerns about the religious situation in Eastern Europe, particularly in Romania, and suggested steps to be taken by denominations, religious world organizations, and U.S. Government. E.g. the World Alliance of Reformed Churches prepared a theological treatise on “A Christian Declaration on Human Rights” (1977) and passed resolutions in 1983 and 1984 recommending the United States Government to withdraw Most Favored Nation privileges from Romania unless basic human rights are guaranteed to the Hungarian Minority Nation in Romania. Unfortunately the implementation of these resolutions are often wrecked by church officials who consider “peace” more important than “justice.” Better results were achieved by U.S. Government officials and senators. This is how the Rev. Ferenc Visky was reinstated. This is how we were able to send aid to rebuild church edifices in Romania after the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977. (We shall never forget the valiant efforts of Senator Ribicoff in this respect!) This is why I dare to suggest a few agenda items to this Committee: 1. Implement resolutions! Resolutions are very important as they can clarify issues, set courses of events, put actions into motions. E.g. a statement on the collective, community rights of a minority is long overdue in national and international documents: we should protect and promote the values which are claimed by a national minority in traditions, culture, “collective individuality.” But the spirit of every good resolution becomes a ghost, if it is not embodied in realistic actions. If a resolution has no follow up, it is painfully deceptive for all concerned. Emphatic understanding and forceful actions are needed if we want to win the confidence of Eastern Europe. 2. Establish comprehensive contacts! Visits are exremely important, and the professional staff members of this Committee have beautifully demonstrated their sensitivity in their 1983 report on “Human Rights Issues in United States Relations with Romania and Czechoslovakia.” In such visits we ought to have opportunities to meet people with and without government participation, if we do not want to fall victims of Potemkin Walls. But how to do this in Romania where every citizen is obligated to report every conversation with a “foreigner”? On how we solve this problem depends the effectiveness of our work! 3. Challenge with vision! If it is true that the only universal fact about human rights is their universal violation, it is equally true that only a universal vision can cure our madness. I firmly believe that this vision must go beyond all party politics and should be in harmony with the best spiritual insight of all humankind, and since I also believe that the United States of America can become a unique servant of the Almighty God in the service of this vision, I pray that this Committee may always strive to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Thank you! John Butosi HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT Answers of the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi to the questions raised by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in connection with his testimony on June 12, 1984 Question 1. The State Department’s human rights report for 1983 discusses the “basic community” movement within the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary. What is the approximate size and significance of this group, what are its goals and is there any change in their treatment either by the Church or the government? Reverend Butosi: I think the State Department’s report is correct as far as it goes. The basic community movement within the Roman Catholic Church may not be significant in size (hard to estimate the size of an “underground” movement), but significant enough in attitude, theological posture and ecclesiastical relationship. The issue is this: how should a church respond to the judgment of God? The answer of Protestant church leaders in Hungary was that the church must repent when God judges and true repentance must be manifested in obedient acts of reparation; thus they reached a concordat with the Communist State.
