Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

- 3*0

(O'/yUlJ

HCP Vol XX Sfcpeoial Hűmber 1968 No 2

given to us &e possibilities and, at the same time* as task. Also in the New Testament, the magnificent indioatiws of Ohrist,s deeds are always coupled with the imperatives of moral action. "Neither do I condemn thee - go, and sin no nőre". "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you ere called" (Ephesians 4:l). The gift is the first, the task Í3 the second. But the latter is not negligible either. To overlook the moral consequences might put got the preoious gift itself (See the fifth petition in the Lard's Prayer or the Parable ef the Unmerciful Servant) . All this holds true of the racial problem also, ;

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We realize that the ohurch has not only to give something in the way of contributing toward the solution of the problem but that she has also to rqaent for past mistakes and failures. We are in accord ttWv'

tone of the Section III of the World Conference on Church and Socae ty/the sins of thé church as an institution in the past: "The church as an institution ha« itself too frequently been a segregated body - it must increase its zeal in the reversal of this history, and strive to be faithful to its spiritual heritage and teaching. It must accept a much more determir— ed preaching and teaching róle. The pulpit shares with the classroom the important task of giving instruction in the Gospel and its meaning for full brotherhood without discrimination".96)

We, too,' in the Hungarian Protestant ohurches feel our shame because of past mistakes and omissions and also realize the task to convey the message entrusted to us.

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Before and during World War U, because of the close alliance between state and church, our churches had no really independent message to convey. We, too, were submerged in the- sins of our nation, and this is what we have to repent. There arc especially three issues the survey cf which should move us to penitence: the question of our national minorities under the peculiar circumstances of this country, anti-Semitism and the preplan of the Gypsies. «

As an ecclesiastical issue, the problem of our national minorities ooncemed mainly the use of their own languages. Owirjg to the policy of tho Hapsburgs in relation to the nationalities cf the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the question of language and national identity had been a very serious problem already in the XIXth century, both before and after the Hungarian war of independence in 184-8 and -1849, Thai, after World War I, chauvinistic pride and its expression in the policy in relation to the national minorities became even mare intense. Our whole society was stricken with blindness in this matter, and our churches were no exceptions. We speak about this with the feeling of remorse and penitence.

Also in relation to the problem of anti-Semitism, we have good reasons to repent. Sinoe our Liberation, our churches have repeatedly and in general form admitted our guilt: we had failed to resist anti-Semitism and, in the most tragio times, we had been unable.to make a united front