HIS-Press-Service, 1980 (5. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)
1980-06-01 / 17. szám
HIS Press Service No.17, June 1980 Page 11 not incidental that the letter was written in the Hungarian language and that the Pope, in speaking about catechetical activity in Hungary, refers to the tasks and possibilities involved and encourages the bishops, and also the faithful, of the Hungarian Church in a language which is also understandable to the laity. Pope John Paul II has a completely realistic understanding of the internal and external situation confronting Hungary's Church. He does not consider it beneath his dignity to make a request of the civil authorities, namely to respect the faith of the Catholic youth by permitting "a religious upbringing, a strengthening of the faith, and its free expression and exercise." He leaves no doubt that catechetics is especially necessary for adults, and recommends small religious groups as one of the best forms for such activity. The Pope thus takes a clear stand on two issues which to date have been the subject of lively debate within Hungary's Church, namely that of catechetics of adults and the small religious groups. It is also noticeable that nowhere does the Pope - in contrast to school religious instruction - use the term "church religious instruction," which in Hungary has already become a concept in its own right. He thus makes no distinction between this or that kind of religious instruction. The only thing that should be different, in his opinion, is the way in which it is carried out when offered to different groups, i.e., depending upon whether it is catechetical instruction for adults, adolescents, or children. Another clarifying effect of the letter may come from the Pope's statement that Hungary's Catholic Church can best serve the future of the people and the construction of society on a zealous and successful catechetical instruction of the country's Catholics. One of the intentions of the Pope's letter is to make clear that in the regulation of relations between Church and State no tremendous, spectacular concessions on the part of the State are necessary, but rather simply the recognition of the Church's right to carry out in peace the mission entrusted it by Christ. Please send us a copy of the publications or articles in which information from HIS Press Service is used. Published by the Hungarian Institute for Sociology of Religion /HIS/ - President: Bishop Stefan László, S.D.,Eisenstadt - Editorial Board: Emeric András,Ph.D./Vienna/, Julius Morel, Ph.D /Innsbruck/, Julianna Ujváry M .A./Vienna/. - A-I I 40 Wien, Linzer Str. 263/1-, Phone /0 22 2/ 94 21 89. Österr.Postsparkassenkto. 7739 006. Eigentümer, Herausgeber und Verleger: Ungarisches Kirchensoziologisches Institut. Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Dr.Emmerich András. Beide: A-II40 Wien, Linzer Str.263/18. Druck: Offsetschnelldruck Anton Riegelnlk, A-1080 Piaristengasse 19.
