Fraternity-Testvériség, 1977 (55. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1977-04-01 / 2. szám
OVERTURE submitted by the Calvin Synod Conference to the Eleventh General Synod of the United Church of Christ in regard to human rights and cultural freedom violations against minorities in the Socialist Republic of Rumania as adopted at the Synod’s Annual Meeting on April 20, 1977. Whereas Jesus Christ calls the Church to the ministry of reconciliation as well as to make the implication of the Gospel effective in seeking the establishment of justice and peace in the world; and Whereas curtailment of fundamental human rights and cultural freedoms persists in the Socialist Republic of Rumania with special emphasis upon national minorities, particularly in the fields of education, labor policy, bilingualism and religious liberty despite of signing international agreements that reaffirm the provision of Article 27 of the United Nations Covenant of Civil and Political Rights that “in those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not he denied the right in community with other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, or to use their own language”; and Whereas the Rumanian State, through its organ the Ministry of Cults, exercises a policy of total interference in ecclesiastical matters regardless of their administrative, social or theological nature, which harms especially the minority populations — among them 2.5 million Hungarians and 400,000 Saxons (Germans) in Transylvania, a land which was first in Europe to proclaim religious liberty — as the church is the only remaining institution which could fulfill the socio-cultural needs of minorities and permit them to nurture their ethnic heritage: Now, therefore, he it RESOLVED, that the General Synod of the United Church of Christ supports the legitimate strivings of minorities in the Socialist Republic of Rumania with respect to the freedom to exercise their fundamental human rights and cultural freedom; and be it further RESOLVED, that the General Synod urges the World Council of Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches to continue their efforts in asserting the facts in regard to human rights and cultural freedom violations of minorities in Rumania (including the recent earthquake damages of the Reformed Church in Transylvania), and — in co-operation with the churches and competent officials of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Rumania, to assure the implementation of their constitutional rights with respect to fundamental human rights and cultural freedom; and he it further RESOLVED, that if the Socialist Republic of Rumania continues to restrict the freedom of its minorities in the exercise of their fundamental human rights and cultural freedom, then the General Synod of the United Church of Christ urges the Government of the United States of America to terminate the 1975 United States — Rumanian Trade Agreement and the most-favored nation treatment of the Socialist Republic of Rumania. ☆ ☆ Social Security Payments To Increase There will he an increase of 5.9% beginning with checks received July 1, 1977. The Social Security and supplemental security income checks increase automatically each year if the consumer price index rises by 3% or more over specified measuring periods. The increase in Social Security benefits will become effective for the month of June and will he reflected in the checks received July 1st. —National Underwriter ARE YOU MOVING? ? ? ? Please Let Us Know Your New Address Mailing Label From This Publication NEW ADDRESS LISTED BELOW: EFFECTIVE DATE .................................................................... Name .................................... Address ....................................................................................... City ................................................................................................ State ..................................................... Zip Code .................... Please mail this completed form to: HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA 3216 New Mexico Ave., N.W. Washington, D. C. 20016 8
