HIS-Press-Service, 1980 (5. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)
1980-02-01 / 16. szám
HIS Press Service No.16, February 1980 Page 4 In summarizing the role of the Churches, Secretary of State Miklós stated, that "all these experiences on national and international levels demonstrate that a new type of relationship (has arisen) between the socialistic State and the Churches. The Churches have developed a new basis for their cooperation (with the State)." COMMENTARY Before proceeding with an analysis, two things must be kept in mind: 1. Secretary of State Miklós speaks of Churches. Our concern here is principally with the Catholic Church, especially when speaking of actual situations existing in Hungary. We understand as "Church" the community of the faithful in Christ: a visible, organized reality and, at the same time, a supernatural society. Since Miklós1 understanding of Church is restricted to Church as a social, sociological reality, we too will refer to Church in this sense, although it is impossible to fully exclude the theological significance of the Church's nature. It should also be kept in mind that Secretary of State Miklós generally is involved in dealings only with the bishops, i.e., with leading Church figures, and with representatives of the Holy See; it is not these persons alone, however, but rather the entire people of God who constitute the Church: the bishops, priests, and faithful together. 2. It must also be kept in mind, that in Miklós' references regarding socialism, he is referring to but one specific type of socialism. Today, however, various types of socialism, Marxism, etc., are already referred to. When speaking, for example, of the "development of socialism," one must precisely define the type of socialism meant, the ideology and praxis from which it originates, the concept of man, social model, and political ethics it embodies, and the extent to which it permits a separation of the elements comprising its system. According to Catholic position, faith can at times exercise a "critical funcion" in a concrete situation in order to demythologize ideology and politics - should the need arise - and evaluate everything from the viewpoint of the Kingdom of God and the salvation of man. At the same time, the Church sees the power embodied in the State as a force which cornés to the aid of the people and concerns itself with their common good. The Church gives its support to the State leaders in these efforts - independent of the concrete political form of government. In the present as in the past, the Church promotes efforts aiding the common good - though only in the area belonging to the Church through the mission entrusted to it by the Gospel. "The Church has always held that it is ones duty to concern himself with the common good, and thus also played a part in educating good citizens for all
