HIS-Press-Service, 1981 (6. évfolyam, 19-21. szám)

1981-03-01 / 19. szám

HIS Press Service No.19, March 1981

Page 6

fulfill their military service obligation. Theology students are not allowed, like all other students who wish to do so, to fulfill this civic duty after the completion of their studies because, it is said, after the completion of their studies they are ordained as priests, and priests are not conscripted to serve in the Hungarian Peoples Army. During their time of military service, pressure is often exerted upon the seminarians in one form or another in the hope of causing them to change their future occupational intentions.

There are a total of approximately 300 seminarians. Officially there is no limitation on the number of persons entering the seminary. If, however, the limitations - which, though not defined, nevertheless do exist in practice, - are exceeded, the difficulties which result for both the Church and those interested in entering the seminary prove almost incapable of being overcome.

The theological training offered in Hungary requires 5 years. Young priests interested in doing doctoral studies at the Budapest Theological Academy are usually granted an additional year of study.

Number of Seminarians According to Academic Years (1979/80)

Seminary

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

I-VI

Year of Study

Central

Seminary

3

6

6

10

9

9

43

Eger

6

20

10

12

7-55

Esztergom

13

8

4

2

4-31

Győr

8

9

8

8

7-40

Nyiregyháza

7

4

6

2

5-24

Szeged

6

5

6

9

7-33

Total of Diocesan Seminarians

43

52

40

43

39

9

226

The Number of Religious Priests and Novices

As a result of the agreement reached between the Hungarian Bishops Conference and the Hungarian State on 30 August 1950, 8 Church, i.e., confessional, high schools are allowed to be maintained. Since then the Benedictines, the Franciscans, and the Piarists have each run 2 high schools for boys, and the School Sisters named after Our Beloved Lady have run two high schools for girls. Approximately 35 religious order members are permitted for each school, which means that each religious order is allowed about 70 members. As already mentioned, to provide future teachers each of the 4 orders is annually permitted to accept