1987. Különkiadvány, 1987.10.01 / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
- Tbat • teacher cannot be forced to conceal hie religious convictions.- That a atate employee cannot be penalized fór attending church Services, and it is unconstitutional to prohibit party members from attending church veddings or funerals.- That every Citizen in military service must be ensured orderly practice of his religion. He must be pennitted to bring his boly books intő the barracks, to go to church, and to observe the ritual bans of his religion. (We will revert belov to the problem of conscientious objectors.) Bút in itself the protection of rights to vhich the individual is entitled is nőt enough to ensure freedom of religion. The overvhelming majority of believers practice their faith in communities, fór the most part organized intő churches. Freedom of religion, over and above freedom of conscience and equality before the lav, means the sum totál of rights associated vith practicing one's faith in communities. On the one hand, the 6tate should nőt interfere in the internál affairs of religious communities, as long 86 they observe the lavs that are binding on everyone. On the other hand, the State cannot grant the already recognized communities public-lav prerogatives at the expense of other citizens, be they believers or atheists. These tvo conditions jointly constitute the separation of church and State. MoBt of the violations committed daily against the freedom of religion stem from the fact that separation of church and State has nőt been achieved. The State is interfering in the internál affairs of the churches:- The State has preserved its right of patronage: permission must be obtained from the State beforehand to appoint prelates; the State Office of Church Affairs must approve the service-passport applications of churchmen, etc. The State Office of Church Affairs transfers the prie6ts vhom the State does nőt like.- The State Controls the finances of the churches. By capping the parish tax and prohibiting the churches from making business investments, the State sharply limité church income. The larger churches are forced to rely on State aid. Requesting and accepting the aid places the churches at the state's mercy. At the same time, advance official approval is required fór any church investment (the renovation of a church building, fór example) that exceeds a limit as lov as 30,000 forints.- Relations betveen the churches and their faithful are restricted. As a rule, the construction of a név church is pennitted only as a replacement fór an old one that has ceased. Entire settlements remain vithout a church of their ovn. Religious instruction at the parish house is alloved since the second half of the 1970's, bút is closely supervised. Cathecism courses must be reported to the council. Religious instruction fór youths of secondary-school age is prohibited. Nonconventional gatherings of clergymen and laymen are observed by the police and may evoke retaliation. b 2. 0 4
