HIS-Press-Service, 1976 (1. évfolyam, 1. szám)
1976 / 1. szám
Page 7 HIS Press Service, A Review of 1976 the necessity for an active presentation of the Church's point of view. The offering of religious instruction in the churches as an alternative to that once given in the schools was the work of the religion teachers, who did not back off from either the effort or the risks involved. The fact that these teachers, and also the parents of the children taking religious instruction, insisted upon such instruction proved to the politicians that the extensive efforts they had undertaken to regulate religious instruction in the churches had been a mistake. In the second example, Lékai's trip to the United States proved successful only in instances where he was able to convince the Hungarian faithful living there that he was visiting them in his capacity as a Hungarian Church leader, and not as a political representative of the Hungarian government. Presenting the Church's Point of View Both examples show how important it is that the Church be in a position to make known its own viewpoints and protect its interests. Such Church action has been made easier through the fact that at present the State uses fewer administrative means in its campaign against the Church, and in that the State has refined its methods of intervention; the approach has become somewhat more flexible. In addition, the State has begun to show a greater interest in a dialogue with the Church. In the journal "Világosság," Imre Miklós, the head of the Bureau of Church Affairs, recently (1977/1) wrote an article on the significance of Church and religion in the social and private sphere entitled "A New Type of Relations." "It would be a mistake," he said, "were one to say that the ideal influence of the Church (upon the mutual relationships existing among the different social classes) no longer exists. It would be a mistake were one to minimize the role played by religious belief in the private life of the individual, in the interpersonal relations among men, and in the service of moral norms." Miklós sees a chance for the faithful to take a stand on public issues. "Participation in the People's Front for the Fatherland ... offers both the Church and the faithful the chance not only to present their own views but also, through constructive criticism, to aid in the success of the efforts directed toward national progress." The chance for "constructive criticism" spoken of by Secretary of State Miklós is in actuality a strictly controlled avenue of expression; nevertheless, it offers the possibility for an active presentation of the Church's viewpoint. If Hungary's Church is to make use of this chance, however, both a certain amount in inner-Church cooperation and the use of accurate methods of determinina common Church goals is necessary. There must be a clear understanding of the possibilities and goals which are beneficial to the Church; the Church must
