HIS-Press-Service, 1978 (3. évfolyam, 9-12. szám)
1978-02-01 / 9. szám
HIS Press Service No.9. February 1978 Page 9 A CHRONOLOGICAL COMPILATION OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE HUNGARIAN CHURCH SINCE 1948 1948 (26 December): Cardinal Mindszenty imprisoned. 1949 (February): Cardinal Mindszenty sentenced to life imprisonment. 1950 (30 August): Agreement between the Rom. Cath.Church and the State: recognition and support of the Hungarian government and its goals by the Church; 8 Catholic confessional schools returned to the Church. 1950 (August): Founding of the Catholic Priests for Peace Movement in Hungary. 1951 (28 June): József Grösz, Archbishop of Kalocsa and head of the Hungarian Bishops Conference sentenced to 15 years imprisonment; concomitantly, the beginning of priest trials and persecution of the Church. 1956 Cardinal Mindszenty is freed from prison during the October Revolution and, after the revolt is crushed,goes to the American Embassy where he is granted asylum. 1962-1965: A total of 13 Hungarian bishops and ordinaries attend the various sessions of the Second Vatican Council. 1964 (15 November): A partial agreement is reached between the Holy See and the Hungarian government: the signing of a document and the accompanying protocol which contain, on the one hand, some points of the working agreement, guarantees, and obligations, as well as the still debated questions, and also, on the other, the positions, demands, and reservations expressed by both sides on the various questions.- The appointment of 5 new bishops.- The Hungarian Episcopate receives the chance to send holders of scholarships to the Hungarian Papal Institute in Rome for continued education. 1968: In spring, the delegate of the Holy See carries on negotiations in Budapest with representatives of the Hungarian State Office of the Church. In fall, the head of the State Office of the Church travels to Rome for negotiations. 1969: The appointment of new bishops. 1970: On 2 June, a regulation goes into effect which somewhat reduces State interference, based on Law No. 22/1957, in the conferring of less importent Church positions. 1971: On 28 September, József Mindszenty , Archbishop of Esztergom and Primate of Hungary, leaves the country. Imre Kisberk takes over the administration of the Archdiocese of Esztergom.- The Holy See relinquishes to the Hungarian Bishops Conference the right to decide whether a Catholic priest may act as a representative in the Parliament or assume some other political office.- The appointment of new bishops.- The Hungarian Foreign Minister is received by Pope Paul VI in a private audience. 1972 (February): The appointment of new bishops. 1974: The Holy Father relieves Cardinal Mindszenty of his office as Archbishop of Esztergom and declares the See of the Archdiocese of Esztergom vacant.- The appointment of new bishops. 1975: The appointment of new bishops.- In November, an agreement on religious instruction is reached between representatives of the State and the Bishops Conference. 1976 (12 February): The Holy Father appoints Dr.László Lékai Archbishop of Esztergom. Lékai thus becomes Hungary's Primate.
