HIS-Press-Service, 1980 (5. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)
1980-06-01 / 17. szám
HIS Press Service No.17, June 1980 Page 9 new religion teachers. He reminds them that in the past those most responsible for catechetical activity were the members of religious orders. As already mentioned, in Hungary members of religious orders are at present recognized as such only within the framework of the teaching activities carried on by them in the eight officially permitted Catholic high schools. The resumption, or permission for the expansion, of religious orders and their activities is, in the eyes of Hungarian authorities, one of the topics to be discussed within the framework of the negotiations taking place between the Holy See and the Hungarian government. The Holy See too retains this topic on the agenda of the negotiations regularly taking place as a still unsolved matter. It is to be assumed, however, that the chances for a positive solution in this area would be much greater if Hungary's bishops and faithful were more convinced of the importance of the activity of the religious orders. One of the intentions of the Pope's letter was to make them clearly aware of this. The Pope also calls to mind that in the past the laity, both men and women, were deeply involved in catechetics and performed notable achievements. In the grade schools, especially in the more remote rural areas, it was often the normal teachers who held the religion classes. A number of fully trained female religion teachers were also active in Hungary. The present situation too could offer such possibilities. Those who have completed the theological extension courses offered by the Budapest Theological Academy beginning in 1978 are, for all practical purposes, fully trained religion teachers. Even before the course's commencement, however, Hungarian authorities had already unequivocably let it be known that employing graduates of the course as religion teachers was out of the question. The Pope expresses his conviction that it is above all the family which must play an important role in passing on the truths of the faith. Nothing can replace its role in giving correct example, helping prepare for the reception of the sacraments, participation in liturgical celebrations, etc. Catechetical activity within the family is a preparation, complement, and enrichment of the religious education offered the child by the religion teacher. The Hungarian Bishops Conference had already reminded the faithful that, conscious of their Christian responsibility, they should awaken the aura of faith within the family circles. During the course of the Fifth Episcopal Synod in 1977, Cardinal Lékai, in speaking about the transmission of the faith, referred to the important role of the grandmothers who in so many Hungarian families have taken over the religious upbringing of their grandchildren. The parents themselves are already a product of the era in which school religious instruction was optional, which means that most of them have received no religious instruction at all. The grand
