Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HOP Vol. XX- Specie. 1 Number

1968 No 2- 155 -(07914)

peace and security of the ■world»- The second chapter of tie Declaration contains proposals iú the interests of European peace and security whioh might furnish a really serious basis of negotiations at a obrference of European states«. These proposals., also in their spirit,, although issuing from motives different from ours, are imbued with a sense of responsibility for the destiny of mankind® *5for this reason', it would greatly rcduoe the credibility of all the Christian ministrations conduc'- -d so far in the interests cf peaceful coexistence if the Christian churche.. i ailed to give serious consideration to this appeal or considered only as chance to engage in a dialogue on the philosophical level«, relegating the possibility of actual cooperation, pending on an agreement somewhere in the realm cf theories* so the distant future«

The various ecumenical bodies of the Christian churches have progressed so far as to reckon with the existence of the socialist world order. But this is not enough.- They must also take into account today the role of this world system in international politics and also the results achieved so far in tie way of bringing about the actual coexistence of peoples as well as the experiences made by the churches living and working among them with regard to a deeper understanding of the meaning of Christian service® V7e deplore that the so-called "striving for political impartiality'' has had an adversely moderating effect in this matter on the report of Section III of the World Conference on Church and Society® We believe that the thinking of our churches would be furthered if the ecumenical church bodies realized that the forms of the dialogue cannot be absolutized* ánd that Christians whose oontact with ideology in socialist countries takes place under quite different circumstan.ce s than those of Chris tiers living in western countries do not act out of opportunism cr under the pressing necessity cf "self-defence" when they prefer the dialogue on the level cf practical life to the dialogue which is conducted on the level of philosophical principles3

i) The Role of the World Organizations in the Struggle for Peaceful Coexistence

The Christian churches should give their contribution to the end that the existing international ard regional organizations may serve indeed, .in a way worthy of their mission- the cause,of human welfare*

We already expressed our satisfaction over the fact that Section III of the World Conference on Church and Society, in its discussion about peaceful coexistence, reckoned with the existing global and continental organizations* We believe that, inasmuch a.s these organizations will grow up indeed into the stature cf being able to fulfill their vocation, there will be no need for replacing them by other organizations, neither for increasing their number® Undoubtedly, the most important institution and forum is the