Hungarian Church Press, 1950 (2. évfolyam, 4-13. szám)

1950-07-15 / 12-13. szám

to ask, with special emphasis, the leaders of our church and our congregations: let they- keep their love towards those Homan Catholic brethren who are not willing to turn their faith and religion into the playground or rather the battleground of political adventuresr But, at the same time, let them keep an unmistakable distance from the power-seeking and imperialistic and therefore wholly worldly political Catholicism. They should be able to distinguish between Catholic believers and that Catholicism which is carrying on a struggle of world-politics. LYen within our church, I appeal with anxious love to those who have a living faith and hope in our only Lord, Jesus Christ. Lot them be steadfast in their faith, in quiet humility, - yet at the same time, let they search their conscience daily so that they do not succumb to the temptation of n morbid separation from the world, or of a Pharisaic pride in judging and condemning the world.

One of the decisive tests of this honest and believing attitude is, for the leaders of our congregations, whether they can establish and maintain a healthy and sincerely friendly relation with the local Soviets which have now been organized in the new state system. One must take pains everywhere to make our church life and service unambiguous. Of course, we shall net be anybody's servants, as far ns our faith is concerned, we shall serve only the Lord of the Church. But just cd naturally, we are pledged, by the obedience of faith, tó cooperate with those whoso concern is to serve a just social order, based on work, and the cause of peace which is the condition of all fruitful labour.

It will dopond, primarily, on the attitude or rhe church whether the difficulties which we must take into account will be quickly vanishing clouds or onerous burdens. Let us plunge ourselves with a good conscience and the firm hope of Christian believers, into the work of construction and let us assume the tasks that aro committed to us by God. Our people and the people of our church have a sure road ahead, and "the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein" /Isaiah 35:8/. This way of the church is not in theory and not in the air, but a practical way and is right hero, on this earth.

Let us accept sincerely the new Hungarian life pattom. We long for righteousness and peace, and we servo these onuses here and everywhere to the world. If necessary, we fight against injustice and the threatening horror of war, and our attitude should make it obvious to all that all we do and say is not a compromise with coercion, but a &in<*ere obedience to the will of God Who i3 grncjjouB even in Kis j udgm-on-ts.-6- ,

Hungarian Church Press