Magyar Egyház, 1981 (60. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1981-03-01 / 3-4. szám
MAGYAR £GYhm 14. oldal 52nd article of the Soviet constitution, the citizens’ right to religious freedom. But what is the real situation? Religious freedom in the Soviet Union so the Cardinal notes is restricted to freedom within the precincts of the churches. Thus, an ordinance issued in 1975 by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet prohibits the setting up of religious associations, the conduct of biblical courses and the keeping in the churches of books except those used in connection with the religious rites. Every newly built church, every newly founded seminary, every newly bought icon, every ornament donated to the church becomes by law the property of the state. “In this way, ” Cardinal Koenig writes, “The state intervenes in the innermost affairs of the churches and of the religious communities.” He adds that while atheistic propaganda is carried out by the state, Soviet citizens are denied the right to defend publicly their religious convictions. The Cardinal then notes in the Le Monde article that even in “relatively liberal” Communist states such as Hungary, the party bureaucracy has the last word in all religious matters. Hungarian bishops can do nothing without beforehand informing the office of ecclesiastic affairs whose chairman, Imre Miklós, is a member of the Communist party’s Central Committee. The secretaries of dioceses cannot be named, circulars cannot be issued, bulletins cannot be sent out and not even the seal of a parish can be changed without the approval of the authorities. The situation is even worse in Czechoslovakia, Cardinal Koenig notes. He then cites laws 217 and 218, promulgated in Czechoslovakia during the Stalin era, which, in his words, merely define the duties of the clergy without even mentioning its rights. The Cardinal also points out that in spite of existing laws the Czechoslovak authorities make it very difficult for children to receive a religious education. He recalls that in 1972, seventy percent of the children attending schools in Slovakia received religious education. Since then both parents have to appear personally before the director of the school to request religious education for their child or children. If they do so they are warned that after receiving religious education the children will find it difficult to continue their studies. * This then, according to Cardinal Koenig, is the situation in Eastern Europe. Yet, he concludes his article on a hopeful note. “Religious freedom, ” the Cardinal writes “as part of human freedom is not a dress one can abandon or change; it is part of man’s nature and will last longer than atheism. ” Support the Archieve Fund of the Bethlen Home The Standing Committee for the Preservation of the Historical Material Related to the Hungarian Reformed People in America announced the establishment of The Archive Fund of the Bethlen Home. Some time ago the Hungarian Reformed church bodies in America—the Calvin Synod, the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, the Presbyterian Conference—together with the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, the Bethlen Home, and the American Hungarian Foundation named a Task Force to explore the possibilities of saving the tremendous historical material relating to the life of the churches and other organizations of Hungarian Reformed people in America. The initial purpose was to secure the safekeeping of the material deposited with the Bethlen Home in Ligonier; but also important was making this innnrraTnnnnnr8~<nnnnnnmnr^^ HUNGARIAN REFORMED YOUTH CAMP! is l Bethlen Youth Federation of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America and the Youth Fellowship of the Calvin Synod will hold a combined Camp. Date: July 11—18th, 1981. Place: Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Pa. DETAILS WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON! Cost of camp: $85.00 s a io o o o o o a o p a p ago p a a aas a£.a.sLgaflftggflfl a aa a a a o a a material available for scholarly research. Last September the Task Force was organized into a Standing Committee to set up and permanently further this project, as well as to extend its scope to all available material still held by the churches and various organizations. The first step of the project will be to systematize, catalogize, and microfilm the material now held in the Bethlen Home. Later plans include securing new deposits and/or microfilming material which the churches and organizations wish to keep. The Archive Fund will finance this venture. It will be substantially aided by the Hungarian Reformed Federation but all Reformed people in America are invited and urged to generously support it. EASTER is a great opportunity to make such a contribution which should be given to the individual churches earmarked for The Archive Bund of the Bethlen Home. The churches (or organizations) will forward the donations to the Fund. Donations, of course, can also be sent directly to The Archive Fund, Bethlen Home, P. O. Box 657, Ligonier, Pa. 15658. The Hungarian Reformed people in America are proud of their heritage. Heritage, however, is only of worth if it is transmitted to and its consciousness is kept up by subsequent generations, thus becoming an enrichment of American life. To do so is not to looked upon as a sacrifice but as a joyful duty. Let us all support this venture and The Archive Fund of the Bethlen Home!
