Fraternity-Testvériség, 1977 (55. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1977-10-01 / 4. szám

aluminum siding. Now we must paint the ceiling, repair the pews and cover the floor with carpet. Please help us to carry out our plan by mailing your tax exempt donations to the Bethlen Home designated toward the Chapel Fund.

We urgently need a new movie projector for our old people. Help us to buy this machine and God will bless you a million times for your good will.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

☆ ☆

IMRE BERTALAN:

TRANSYLVANIA

Through telephone and mail correspondence I was informed by Rev. Imre Bertalan, director of the HRFA about his personal concern of the plight of the earthquake ravaged Hungarian Reformed Churches in Rumania. His concern was shared by his congregation — The Magyar Reformed Church of New Brunswick, N. J. Rev. Bertalan presented their mutual concern to the Classis of New Brunswick which in turn sent the following overture to the General Synod for adoption with the request to intercede with the Department of State on behalf of these ravaged and politically isolated churches, and to urge the World Council of Churches to exercise its good offices to the same end. Reasons:

1. The fellow Reformed Christians living in Transylvania of the Socialist Republic of Romania suffer political and religious disadvantages because they are Christians in a Communist country, Reformed Christians in a predominately Orthodox environment and Hungarians that are a minority and are severely hindered in the exercise of their fundamental human rights.

2. The latest illustration can be seen in the way the March 4, 1977 earthquake was handled. While the religious and non-religious news services, upon the information received from the government, reported the heavy damages suffered by the Orthodox, Lutheran, Baptist, and Roman Catholic churches, NOT A WORD WAS SAID on the damages suffered by the Reformed Church (Hungarian) of Romania. This created the false impression that no support was needed in Transylvania. Permit to visit these areas was denied by the government.

3. As facts slowly came to light, it became clear that only in Kovasna County, 60 of the 75 Reformed Church buildings were damaged. In 15 church buildings, worship services cannot be held any longer; 5 church buildings had to be demolished immediately; 6 bell towers were damaged beyond repair; fortress walls of 6 churches were totally demolished; 2 parsonages suffered heavy damages. It is believed that the amount of damage inflicted on these churches may be as high as $200,000,000.

4. To prove these facts, the Calvin Synod of the

United Church of Christ (also the Magyar Reformed Church of New Brunswick, N.J.) has in its possession photos recently taken in Pake, Eger- patak, Sep8Íszentgyorgy, Rety, Ilyefalva, Tamas- falva, Cofalva, Z ohala, Hidveg. Other heavilv damaged churches include: Csernaton, Lecfalva, Nagyboro8nyo, etc. (Adopted)

Letters were sent by Rev. Marion de Velder, general secretary to the U. S. Secretary of State and to the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches requesting them whatever action they may be able to take in these concerns.

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