HIS-Press-Service, 1977 (2. évfolyam, 5-8. szám)
1977-12-01 / 8. szám
HIS Press Service No.8. December 1977 Page 3 also as important centers, for evangelical activity carried out directly among the people. Women who taught religion received their training at the Maria Ward College, which was run by the nuns of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (For a short time women were also able to study for a diploma in religious instruction at the Xaverianum, which was founded in Szeged by the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1946.) Each year, there were 30-40 fully trained women catechists who could be utilized for religious instruction. These conditions, which had existed for a long time, changed dramatically after the war. Religious instruction became an elective subject in the schools and participation in it was made increasingly difficult. The number of confessional schools was reduced to 8 secondary schools. The number of religious newspapers and magazines was pared to a minimum. All the Catholic publishing houses and presses were taken over by the State. The religious associations were dissolved. Members of religious orders were no longer allowed to exercise their functions, except for a very small number of persons who were absolutely needed as teachers for holding classes in the 8 still-existing secondary schools. The training of women as religion teachers was halted. Women who had already completed catechetical training were no longer permitted to exercise their profession as such. As for public life today, it has generally been set up in a way that hinders, rather than promotes, access to the truths of the faith. Religious Instruction and Evangelization Today OPTIONAL RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOLS On the basis of the regulations found in Law No.5 of 1949, the presentation of religious instruction in the primary and non-special ized secondary schools has been greatly impeded through discriminatory measures and various reprisals (In other types of schools, e.g. in the trade schools, there is no provision at all for the presentation of religious instruction): The verbal or written registration for religious instruction must be made by one or both parents of the pupil on a day specially set for this purpose. The religion classes can only take place either before or directly after regular classes. The pupils who take part in religious instruction are placed together in groups which are to be the size of normal school daises. (It often occurs that pupils of different ages and sometimes even from different schools are placed together in the same group.) The religion teacher must be authorized by the State to give religious instruction. He may not be a member of the teaching staff, may not enter the teachers lounge, and may not assume any other curricular or extra-curricular activities. The religion classes can be overwatched by the school principal, by a member of
