HIS-Press-Service, 1982 (7. évfolyam, 22-24. szám)
1982-01-01 / 22. szám
HIS Press Service No. 22, January 1982 Page 12 gary's Catholics and would be forced to neglect the remainder.... To show little appreciation for their arduous but necessary work in the parishes is an injustice toward these thousands of priests. At the jubilee celebration commemorating the 125th year of the existence of the Esztergom Cathedral on 6 September 1981, Cardinal Lékai spoke directly in his address to the priests and the faithful about this matter: "There are those among us, both among the laity as well as among the priests, who believe that the Holy Spirit has enlightened them in a very special manner: in a way that is at odds with the teachings and the existing order of the Church. They are causing unrest in the lives of the faithful." "Those who wish to cause you to oppose your bishops and deny the special spiritual character of your priests have distorted the Gospel of Christ. Do not allow these destroyers of the Church entrance into your souls. As the country's Primate, it fills me with sorrow that some of the priests and faithful who tend toward exaggeration encourage young men who are liable to the draft to refuse to participate in active military service. And furthermore, they use the Holy Bible and the teachings of the Church to justify their actions. In other words, they motivate the young men to clearly reject military service on the basis of their Catholic faith. And it is with dismay that we hear there are young men who follow this advice." In an interview for the "Kathpress" on 24 November 1981, József Cserháti, the diocesan bishop of Pécs and the secretary of the Hungarian Bishops Conference, who is also an advocate of the base groups in Hungary, said in connection with the above-mentioned suspension that "situations can arise in which one must clearly say, 'up to this point and no further,' in order to protect the community from harm. For all involved, the suspensions mean a time to stop and reflect." EVALUATION The history of Hungary's base groups, which is already 30 years old, and their internal strength which has withstood all the difficulties involved, give tel 1 - ling witness to their unshakeable faith in Christ. Borne on by the conviction of an apostolic mission, they have never ceased to recommend their approach to Christ and the Church as the way of the future for Hungary's Church. Their ideas are already beginning to have an effect among the faithful: In the case of numerous Catholics, their ideas and suggestions have fallen on fruitful soil and have influenced even persons who are not members of a base group. Proof of their importance can be seen in the great interest of the bishops in incorporating them into
