HIS-Press-Service, 1985 (8. évfolyam, 26-28. szám)
1985-02-01 / 28. szám
HIS Press Service No.28, February 1985 Page 7 In Hungary the practice which was applied to the partial agreement was kept until now: appointments of bishops are always made only after previous agreement with the State. The continual adherence to this practice which is so disadvantageous for the national Church, in no way justifies further state interference in Church affairs. These cases of interference cannot simply be regarded as exceptions nor can they be belitt.lpd as being the odd encroachment of some overzealous officials; on the contrary, they are an established component within the State apparatus, for whose execution special administrative departments have been set up in the Ministry of the Interior and in the State Office for Church Affairs. This fact alone reveals how closely drawn the limits of the partnership between the Church and the State are. A further problem of the "regulated conditions" is seen in the evangelization. The Marxist ideologists are of the opinion that the regulations of religious instruction in Hungary represents an ideal solution for the realization of the constitutionally assured religious freedom, guaranteeing on the one hand, the same chances and possibilities for believers and non-believers alike to practise their faith or not, and, on the other hand, assuring the right of every citizen to religious freedom, at the same time, respecting the civil duties. This somewhat falsified way of considering the "principle of equality" needs some explanation: The ruling termed as "ideal" lays down the following regulation for religious instruction which, as it is, is minimal in any case:- Pupils attending a primary or unspecialised secondary school (only in these types of schools is religious instruction allowed to be given) must, if they wish to attend religious instruction, on a morning or afternoon specially set aside for this, be enrolled by their parents personally or in writing. Only those pupils who are formally enrolled for religious instruction may attend the class.- The religion teacher is not allowed to grade the pupils' achievement. Pupils who miss the religious class are not obliged to excuse their absence.- The religion teacher working in the service of the Church (in practice only priests) are paid by the hour by the State. In order to teach they require a special work permit from the local council. Should the council, for any reason, believe the religion teacher to be in any way hostile to the State, this permission can be withdrawn again.- As for teaching material the teacher may only use those books on religion which are permitted by the State. He has to keep a daily account of his lessons. He has to conform to school regulations. He is not a member of the school teaching staff and may not be involved in any way in school activities (e.g. as supervisor on excursions etc.), is not allowed to enter the staff room and may only remain in school during the actual hours of religious instruction.
