Folia Theologica et Canonica 5. 27/19 (2016)

SACRA THEOLOGIA - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem., Cardinal Mindszenty and the Hungarian bishops against the communist dictatorship (1947-1974)

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SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM.

eventus, on October 25'h expressively and categorically urged the ending of the massacre.27

Card. Mindszenty - as it is well known - was liberated from his imprisonment of Felsőpetény on October 30lh. Before the Cardinal arrived to Budapest, the Revolutionary Government - headed by Imre Nagy - had already declared the trial of 1948 invalid and proclaimed Mindszenty’s rehabilitation. The primate considered as most important priority the restoration of the freedom of ecclesiastical offices, which made necessary to act immediately in the “peace- priest" question. In the same time he had begun negotiation with Werenfried van Straaten, O.Praem. in order to release the sanitary, famine and other social problems which had arisen because the battles.2*

Many questions arise concerning the so-called “peace-priests”. Without the analysis of those particular and personal circumstances which had made a strong influence on joying the “peace-priest movement”, here we must emphasize the act of Card. Mindszenty and other Hungarian bishops - following the date of October 23rd 1956 - to remove from office of those priests who collaborated with the communist regime by this way. The most significant step was done obviously by Card. Mindszenty, who - after his few days of freedom - had to ask for asylum at the Embassy of USA on November 4"1 1956. Based on the decision ofthat urgently convoked session of the bishop conference which was held on November 2nd the ordinaries had been called to dismiss all “peace-priests” from their leading positions, and they had to be sent back to their original - linked to their incardination - diocese. Card. Mindszenty on November 5"’ - when he was already in the Embassy of USA - through the proto-notary canon of Esztergom (Gyula Mátrai) and through his general vicar (Bishop Imre Szabó) he sent specified letters with his instructions about prohibition and suspension of eleven “peace-priests”, including Miklós Beresztóczy who played one of the most important roles in this movement.” Similar instructions were issued by József Grosz, archbishop of Kalocsa; Bertalan Badalik, diocesan bishop of Veszprém; Lajos Shvoy, diocesan bishop of Székesfehérvár; Sándor Kovács, diocesan bishop of Szombathely; Vince Kovács, diocesan bishop of Vác; and Miklós Dudás, Greek-Catholic diocesan bishop of Hajdúdorog.’" These strong reactions of the bishops naturally did not cause sympathy of the communist state, which tried to make a pressure on József Grősz - who because the incapacitation of Card. Mindszenty - was the acting head of the Hungarian Bishop Conference. Nevertheless, his statement of December 19th 1956 made clear that he did not 27 28 29 30

27 Pius XII, Litt. Ene. Lut tuosissimi eventus (25 oct. 1956): AAS 48 (1956) 741-744.

28 SZÁNTÓ, K„ Az 1956-os forradalom és a katolikus egyház., 71.

29 SZÁNTÓ, K., Az 1956-os forradalom és a katolikus egyház, 98-100.

30 Szántó, KAz. 1956-os forradalom és a katolikus egyház, 100-101.