Magyar Hírek, 1983 (36. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1983-12-24 / 25-26. szám
ABOUT THIS ISSUE A Conversation with Gyula Szakos Diocesan Bishop of Székesfehérvár There are few things that give an editor greater pleasure than expressing thanks for the many letters which readers were kind enough to write, full of ideas and suggestions as these are, and also criticism inspired by the desire to be of help. This is not the place now for separate, personal, answers. All I should like to do is give an account of what we have learnt from them concerning six months of publication, and what changes they have inspired. Many of those who have written belong to the second or third generation and they, understandibly do not want to wallow in nostalgia but wish to read articles about contemporary Hungary, that address young people, on subjects that are of current interest. Others amongst those who wrote are married to men or women of Hungarian birth and, as they say, they are happy to be able to read at least a part of the paper at last instead of having to rely on their spouses’ sight-read translation for everything. Spouses too make suggestions. Some want hard facts about everyday life, others information that will be of use when they visit Hungary, about cities, things to see, regional or cultural matters of interest. There are those who are interested in Hungarian literature, others want something they can read aloud to their childem and, naturaly, there are stamp-collectors among the letter writers as well. Thank you for the good counsel and for the criticism. We shall take it all to heart and act on it as soon as possible. The next issue will contain the opening article of the ’’musical album for the young” (of all ages) which this time introduces the prize-winning Hungarian participants at the Tokyo pop-festival. The Babits centenary offers a good opportunity for an initial article on a literary subject, with a brief introduction to the poet’s life and work, and also “Jonah’s prayer” a part of perhaps Mihály Babits’s most beautiful poem, in Alan Dixon’s translation. News of the stamp issued on the occasion should be of interest to philatelists. So much for a first step. We are looking forward to more of your letter, to your advice and criticism. This issue will reach most readers around Christmas, nevertheless an account of this autumn’s events appears to be justified. The parliamentary session, which surveyed the situation of industry looking for a feasible programme of development in the present, difficult world economic situation took place this autumn. The discussion — there were more than thirty questions to the minister — reflected the activity and spirit, of present Hungarian public life engaged in debate as much as another debate taking place currently, which affects the whole society, that preceding the drafting of the new Electoral Act. The draft of the Electoral Bill was published in the daily press in 1.5 million copies; and hundreds of meetings were held afterwards in which people from all walks of life expressed their opinion. Most agreed with the major aims of the draft, but a great number of amendments were also suggested. The next stage is the parliamentary debate through which its final form will be enacted. It is expected that many of the recommended amendments will be included in the final version. One thing appears to be certain: there will be at least two candidates for each seat both in parliamentary and local government elections. If 25 per cent or more of the valid votes are cast in favour of a losing candidate, the loser will become a “supplementary representative”, and will automatically replace the sitting member (or councillor), without a by-election, should the seat become vacant. Voting will be direct and by secret ballot continuing the earlier practice. Following one of the recommendations, mobile polling stations will be introduced to permit disabled and bed-ridden people to exercise their voting rights. (Further details of the Electoral Bill are given in the Hungarian section of the journal, in the interview with Béla Molnár, a secretary of the Patriotic People’s Front on page 23.) Continuing with autumnal events: a number of items in No. 24 (pp. 8—11) told of the way Hungarian farmers coped with this year’s serious drought. It created particularly serious problems in fodder supplies, since the livestock figures of the country are higher than ever before, and their maintenance, indeed further growth, is nationally important both to ensure supplies to the domestic markets and exports. It is no exaggeration to say that what is taking place now is a serious test of the productive capacity of Hungarian socialist agriculture. The modern, large-scale farms cope not only with their own problems, but also take care of the fodder needs * of smaller units, including household farms, within their district. The problems are not small. But it is clear by now, that every cooperative farm and every peasant family will be able to cope with this natural disaster without the serious consequences experienced by earlier generations. Hungary is looking forward to the New Year, with steady self-confidence. The country succeeded to maintain the modest prosperity reached in the past fifteen years, even if at the cost of some sacrifices, amidst the regression that has ravaged the whole world. Social consent based cn the policy of cooperation that embraces the whole nation, has become further consolidated under even more difficult international conditions. The ties v/hich bind our country to millions of Hungarians in five continents became stronger in recent years, and we have good reason to hope they will grow further in the future. This is the message of the Secretary of the World Federation of Hungarians, János Gosztonyi, in his interview published in Hungarian in this issue, an English translation will appear in the next. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Székesfehérvár Gyula Szakos and Zoltán Káldy, a Lutheran Bishop made statements published in the Hungarian part of the paper (pp. 4-5.). They tell of the spiritual ties that bind together Hungarians all over the world. A slighly abbreviated version of the interview with Bishop Szakos appears in this English supplement. A “real fairy-tale”, is published for children for the first, but not for the last, time in the English supplement. This time it is taken from a book by Kati Rékai, a Canadian—Hungarian author. We wish a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year to all our readers. How would you describe religious life in the diocese of Székesfehérvár? ’Saint Sthephen the King founded a priory in Székesfehérvár, and endowed it with special privileges. The priory was originally directly subjected to the Apostolic Holy See but later it came under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Esztergom, the Primate of Hungary. Székesfehérvár was the town of coronations and the burial place of Hungarian kings throughout the Middle Ages. The founder of the Hungarian state, Saint Stephen the king who had the royal basilica built which is imposing and marvellous even as a ruin was also buried here. The present catedral was built on the foundations of the early 13th century Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and was consecrated to Saint Stephen after its 18th century reconstruction. The diocese, which extends over County Fejér, part of County Pest, and a part of Greater Budapest is not homogenous. Mainly those in the vicinity of the capital city some of those in Budapest itself still live religious lives in the traditional sense as renewed in the spirit of the Second Council of Vatican. The ancient religious traditions which also require the religious education of children is a decisive force in the lives of families there, even today. Secularization is more powerful in County Fejér. The older generation is generally religious, but the middleaged, and the young have largely lost interest in religion with the exception of some parishes and places of pilgimage. My experience has been that many-many thousands of pilgrims take part in the celebrations of important feast days, including young people, mainly at the ancient Bodajk, and the Máriaremete shrines, wrhich people call the Hungarian Lourdes.” Which are the problems of importance, equally affecting religious and non-religious people, where the aims of the state and the Church — including the interests of the diocese — coincide? “In spite of existing religious, world view, and social differences, there is a complex problem we all face: the prevention of moral decline. PHOTO: VIKTOR GABOR 60
