Calvin Synod Herald, 1982 (82. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1982-12-01 / 6. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 5 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA ELYRIA A PASTOR’S FAITHFULNESS A ladar Komjáthy Ferenc Csókás Ferenc Csókás, a member of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Elyria died on the 24th of October and was buried from our Elyria church. After his funeral we learned that he left all his property to the Hungarian Reformed Church of Elyria, Ohio. It is a beautiful story of a Hungarian Reformed Christian man, but I feel that our entire community should know the whole story, which makes it even more touching. Ferenc Csókás has not even been a very active member of our Elyria Church until the time that Rev. Tibor Petroczy came to Elyria. It was Pastor Petroczy’s pastoral care and compassionate ministry, which led Mr. Csókás into the fellowship of the Elyria Church couple years ago. He was “Református” by birth in Hungary, during Second World War as a soldier of the Hungarian Army retreated to Germany, from where he immigrated into the United States as displaced person in 1950. When his wife died, Rev. Petroczy became his only friend. It touched me deeply when I saw Pastor Petroczy’s pastoral care and concern for this ailing man, he was seventy-seven when he died. Rev. Petroczy’s compassionate ministry led him to join the fellowship of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Elyria, more actively. I can also testify as an eye-witness that Mr. Csókás offered his entire estate to be left to his pastor personally, which he politely declined and suggested that the Hungarian Reformed Church of Elyria be the sole beneficiary of his will. Mr. Csókás and his late wife have always been Godfearing and believing Reformed Christians. A 150 year old, very precious Hungarian Bible was their daily bread thoughout their pilgrimage during the stormy days of World War and in the decades of finding their home in the United States. But it was definitely Rev. Tibor Petroczy’s pastoral ministry which helped him to find finally a spiritual home in the fellowship of the Hungarian Church in Elyria. And now, his memory lives on as the greatest benefactor ever of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Elyria. A beautiful story of a pastor’s faithful ministry. My name is Rev. Dr. Alexander Havadtoy, pastor of the United Church of Christ, Fairfield, Connecticut. I appreciate this opportunity to present the views of the Hungarian-American Community of Connecticut. I am also representing the Human Rights Commission of the United Church of Christ (consisting of two million members), and the Human Rights Commission of the World Reformed Presbyterian Alliance, North American and Carribean Area (consisting of major denominations). As for my personal background, I was born in Transylvania, and I maintain extensive contacts with fellow Hungarians in that region. My presentation will concentrate on church matters. The multinational region of Transylvania has a long heritage of religious freedom. It was in the Hungarian Principality of Transylvania, in 1557, that freedom of religion was written into law for the first time in history. Today, however the Ceausescu Regime exercises a policy of total interference in ecclesiastical matters through its organ, the Ministry of Cults. One must keep in mind that religion in Rumania corresponds with nationality. The Rumanians are almost all Ruma-TRANSYLVANIA nian Orthodox; Hungarians are either Roman Catholic, Reformed, or Unitarian. Thus the persecution of a particular denomination (e. g. Reformed) is at once the oppression of a nationality (Hungarian). The Reformed Church, with 800,000 registered members, has two bishoprics, but its functions are severely curtailed. The bishops are appointed by the Communist Regime and are totally subservient to its whims and wishes. No decisions can be made by church officials unless they are reviewed and approved by the Communist authorities. With the exception of Sunday worship services, no other church gatherings can be held without the approval of the Ministry of Cults, which in practice does not grant such approval. Congregations are denied their historical right to call their own ministers. The State, through the regional offices of the Ministry of Cults, has reserved the right to appoint them. Due to the present oil crisis, which weighs heavily on the Rumanian economy, President Ceausescu has introduced a new rule concerning travel on Sunday by private transportation. In the future, travel by car will be permitted only on alternate Sundays depending on the odd and even registration of the cars. This hits very hard at ministers who have to travel great distances to minister to their congregations. Several pastors have requested the government to provide a special exemption for them, saying that they would be willing to surrender two other days of nontravel in exchange for being allowed to travel on Sundays. The Ceausescu Regime answered with a peremptory “No”. Religious education is restricted to six weeks of confirmation instruction during the winter months. These classes may be held only in church buildings which are mostly unheated. School authorities are instructed to cross-examine students attending confirmation classes, about their religious beliefs. The children must account in regular school for their desire to be instructed in religion. These daily inquisitions are intended to discourage students from attending religious education. To reinforce this anti-religious attitude, schools are directed to organize compulsory activities to
