HIS-Press-Service, 1980 (5. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)
1980-06-01 / 17. szám
HIS Press Service No.17, June 1980 Page 10 mothers, on the other hand, had all received religious instruction during their time in school. In connection with religious instruction in the schools, the Pope made special reference to both the high level of religious instruction and also the significance of the religious upbringing taking place in Hungary's eight Catholic high schools. At the same time, he asks the parents of school children not to cease utilizing the legally allowed religious instruction in the schools despite the difficulties arising from the Church politics carried on by the State. He requests their support for this form of catechetical instruction through making use of the legally allowed possibilities, despite the problems this might create for them. The Pope's encouragement in this area is also directed to the religion teachers, who, because of the all too frequent and all too numerous difficulties experienced by them in connection with religion classes in the schools, no longer consider these meaningful and, for the most part, are being swayed by a feeling of resignation in their efforts in this area. EVALUATION From a legal point of view, the negotiations which began between the Holy See and the Hungarian government in 1963 have led to a normalization of the situation of the Catholic Church in Hungary. Actually, however, the negotiations have to date only succeeded in regulating personnel matters; the solutions to a number of pastoral problems facing the Church, on the other hand., have constantly been put off to a later date and still remain unsolved. Tiie significance of the present letter of Pope John Paul II is that it tal^s-up a central problem of pastoral care. The importance of this letter is evident from the preparatory discussions held in Budapest by Archbishop Poggi, the special delegate of the Vatican for Church matters involving the Eastern European Countries, to prepare the way for dealing with the problems involved, and also from the fact that the text of the Pope's letter was published in full length in three of Hungary's Catholic press publications. It should also be mentioned that Cardinal Lékai wrote a letter to the Pope expressing his thanks and joy that in this important matter of catechetics the Holy Father had specially dedicated such a comprehensive letter to the situation in Hungary. In applying the statements of Church documents to the catechetical situation in Hungary, the Pope is exercising both his authority as head of the Catholic Church and also his function as supreme teacher for Hungary's Catholic Church too. It is
