Magyar Egyház, 1968 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1968-10-01 / 10. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 am. Following invitations of Soviet friends, my wife and I have visited your country many times. I have many friends in the Soviet Peace Committee and the Russian Orthodox Church. In the past few years, I have felt more and more disquietened by the feeling that in our State, the old pre- January regime was diminishing the affection of our people for the Soviet Union, our Communist Party was losing its authority and the very structure of our socialist society was paralyzed by the political, economic and cultural inability of the Party and State leadership. The process of renewal which started in January 1968, has meant a great attempt to strengthen the authority of the Communist Party, awakening in our people the responsibility for the construction of socialism, renewing the love towards the Soviet people and so making socialism a dynamic force in international life. Over and over again during my travels abroad, I have been asked if I was afraid of Soviet intervention. I have always stated that I considered it to be impossible because I valued so highly the statesmanship and wisdom of Soviet political leaders. Against this background, I experience the occupation of our State more painfully. My basic feeling is that of disappointment, regret and shame. In my long life, I do not know of a greater tragedy. I am shattered by this event in the same way as Alexander Dubcek, who has been hurt by his friends—Soviet comrades. I am afraid that something irreparable has happened to our people. The loss of affection and respect for the Soviet people cannot be overcome even after decades. The Society of Czechoslovak/Soviet friendship has been destroyed. There is a danger that the love of our people will be changed into hatred and that our closest friends will appear to us as enemies. The Soviet Government could not have committed a more tragic error. This is an immeasurable disaster. The moral weight of socialism in this country and in the world will be shaken for a long time. Only a speedy withdrawal of the occupying forces can at least partially diminish our common disaster. Respectfully, J. L. Hromadka (Dr. Hromadka, who is Professor of the Comenius Faculty in Prague and President of the Christian Peace Conference, was from 1948 until 1959 a Vice-President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches). WCC Officers’ Statement On Czechoslovakia to Member Churches (GENEVA)—The following statement was issued by officers of the World Council of Churches: As officers of the World Council of Churches, having asked advice from its member churches in the nations directly involved in the recent military intervention in Czechoslovakia, having examined and made available to the Security Council of the United Nations through the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, relevant statements made together by the churches in the past through several Assemblies, we address this new statement to the member churches and request them to make it known to their members and governments. We speak not only because of the grave issues of peace, human liberty and dignity at stake, but also in response to a plea indirectly forwarded to us from one of our member churches in Czechoslovakia itself: I. WE DEPLORE the military intervention into the internal affairs of Czechoslovakia, a small, allied, friendly neighboring state, by the governments of the USSR, Poland, East Germany, Hungary, and Bulgaria. II. WE NOTE that the new leadership of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia was attempting reform of the Party and of the state by legal means in no way unfriendly to its eastern neighbors and that these reforms, aimed at an enlargement of spiritual and intellectual freedom, were and are overwhelmingly supported by the people of Czechoslovakia. III. WE FEAR the effects of this ill-considered action by the USSR and its allies in its damage to the confidence of peace-loving people everywhere—a confidence upon which alone world peace can be established. IV. WE APPEAL to the government of the USSR to reconsider the policy which dictated military intervention, to remove all its troops from Czechoslovakia at the earliest possible moment, and to renounce the use of force or its threat, upon its allies, remembering that the use of military force for any purpose by any power, especially a great power, gives excuse or reason to other powers to resist force by force. The Assembly of the World Council of Churches at New Delhi said, “All must renounce the threat of force. This calls for the end to the war of nerves, to pressures on small countries... orderly methods to effect change and to settle disputes are essential.” We make this appeal with some hope because of reported new initiatives already taken by the Soviet Union. V. FINALLY, WE EXPRESS to the churches and all the people of Czechoslovakia our concord and sympathy in their ordeal. We support their peaceful resistance to the re-imposition of spiritual, intellectual, and social controls which are unacceptable to a brave and courageous nation. We call upon all our churches to pray for the people of Czechoslovakia and their leaders that by courage, wisdom and restraint, peace and freedom may be established with justice in their land and throughout the world. M. M. Thomas, India Chairman, Central Committee Eugene Carson Blake General Secretary Pauline Webb, Great Britain ____________________Vice Chairman, Central Committee POSTLÜDE TO THE 29TH ANNUAL NATIONAL B. Y. F. CONFERENCE The B. Y. F. had a very successful and enjoyable conference during the Labor Day weekend. There were about 160 young people, ministers, advisers and friends present. The program and the schedule of the conference was excellent. The Trenton and New Brunswick Youth Fellowships were wonderful hosts. Their hard and devoted work should be recommended. The main topic of the conference was about our Bible. We had two very able speakers. Their addresses were followed by lively discussions. We all learned a great deal about our Bible. We left the conference with the deep conviction that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, and that “all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Furthermore, we learned that the Bible definitely speaks to our modern generation. We are proud to say that the young people of our churches are good and faithful Christians. They
