HIS-Press-Service, 1980 (5. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)
1980-06-01 / 17. szám
HIS Press Service No.17, June 1980 Page 5 inspection of these hours of religious instruction is left to him alone. New Approaches in Catechetical Instruction Both in the past and also at present, the Hungarian Church has viewed catechetical religious instruction as something mainly for children and adolescents. In referring to his apostolic letter "Catechesi Tradendae," the Pope called for both the expansion and intensification of catechetics, as well as for the introduction of new approaches. Speaking concretely, he referred to the effective utilization of the catechetical possibilities available within the framework of the mass media, pilgrimages, and small Church groups. The situation in Hungary in these areas is as follows: Television, the most important mass media means of communication, is not available to Hungary's Church. This is all the more detrimental in that, according to surveys conducted by State research institutes, television is the most effective medium available for the dissemination of materialistic ideology. Hungary has a total of three radio programs, i.e., stations. In the second program (the Petőfi Station), the Catholic Church is allowed 30 minutes of air time on 18 Sundays a year. This 30-minute segment, however, is broadcast at 7 o'clock in the morning before the beginning of the station's normal programming. This "religious half hour" is generally used for a Mass with a 7-8 minute sermon. Seldom, however, is the sermon of a catechetical nature. Such diametrically opposed treatment of materialistic and religious world views is completely contrary to the official interpretation of religious freedom as contained in, and guaranteed by, Hungary's constitution. Yet, those responsible for the regulation of Hungary's mass media have no intention whatsoever of increasing the air time available at present to the Catholic Church. In fact, the Church was not even permitted the additional air time needed to broadcast a complete Mass. As long as the country's cultural-political leadership refuses to allow an expansion of the religious radio programming, and will not even consider the introduction of religious television broadcasts, the Church remains bereft of catechetical possibilities in these areas. In the form of press publications, Hungary's Catholics have the following mass media means at their disposal: the quarterly theological journal "Teológia" (Theology), with 4,000 copies; the literary monthly "Vigilia," with 15,000 copies; the biweekly publication of the Priests for Freedom Movement, "Katolikus Szó" (Catholic Word), with 13,000 copies; and the Catholic weekly newspaper "Uj Ember" (New Man), with 90,000 copies. Since its commencement, "Katolikus Szó" has offered a regularly appearing form of religious instruction for
