Magyar Egyház, 1960 (39. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1960-04-01 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 HUNGARIAN CHURCH WEEKLY PROPAGATES KOLKHOZ Short stories are published in the Hungarian church papers which describe with poetic beauty how good it is to join the kolkhozes (Collective farms). The independent farmer is seen as a “stranger, miserable” in the world while those who join the collectives “are built into a great family, the community of men who found each other” and “taste the joy of being a man for the good of all.” The stories and other articles view the kolkhoz life as morally superior to that of individual farming, for in the former they see the realization of a “communal, unselfish” way of life. Joining the kolkhozes, now religiously sanctified remains — according to this view — the only morally right form of life, the great decision of conscience for the Christian. The naked truth behind this ideal of “communal life” is the absolutism of the Communist state, which compels the Hungarian peasant to give up together with his property the last remnants of his freedom and independence in exchange for a state slavery. How great blindness it is, for church leaders, not to see this! How great sin it is to deny this! Spectator.-----------o----------COMMUNIST “CONFESSIONAL” URGED A Communist counterpart to Roman Catholic confessional has been suggested by an official Communist weekly in Warsaw. Polityka, organ of the Central Committee of the Polish Communist Party, has recommended that the Committee set up “a kind of Confessional” which would be run by Communist psychiatrists and operate in public libraries, Communist cultural centres and other public places It said that such a programme was required because even children of non-believers often go to church “for the sole purpose of discussing their personal problems in the confessional”. (EPS, Geneva.) k k k NEWS (Moscow) — The Soviet Government is going to build special “palaces” in order to provide “a worthy setting” for Communist weddings. The plan is seen as a move to persuade young couples not to get married in the church. The first ceremony in the first “wedding palace” in Leningrad was attended by prominent Communist officials. A Communist rite was substituted for the religious ceremony and music by Tschaikowsky and Rachmaninov was played instead of church music. * Bibles are among the objects frequently smuggled into the Soviet Union, reports “Die Saat”, an Austrian church paper. Despite repeated protests from the Soviet Government, Bibles have been smuggled in from Poland and sold for 500 and 800 roubles. The price corresponds to the average monthly salary of an unskilled labourer. * In 1960 the Protestant and Catholic Churches of Hungary will continue to receive full state subsidies. These subsidies were to have been reduced by 50% last year, and then cut each year until they were stopped in 1969 in accordance with an agreement made in 1948. Youth: This Country's Greatest Asset Upon the invitation of President Eisenhower 7,602 delegates gathered in Washington during the last week in March for the Golden Anniversary White House Conference on Children and Youth. I was one of the representatives of the United Christian Youth Movement. As the youth arm of the National Council of Churches this organization participated in the conference because of its concern for the future of 10 million Protestant and Orthodox youth it represents. The delegates, from all walks of life, sought to promote opportunities for children and youth to realize their full potential for a creative life in freedom and dignity. In an address to the delegates, the President reaffirmed his faith in youth, that they are neither “lost” nor “beat” but rather their country’s greatest asset. The delegates then moved into a week of assemblies, forums and workgroups where they listened to speakers, reviewed present conditions, exchanged knowledge and ideas, and reported on studies. At the end of the week the delegates made recommendation for action in the future. The youth delegates declared that they wished to see, in the next decade, complete integration, and a re-emphasis of the family unit as a central force in democracy. They also felt that “education is the main basis for the broad political participation and individual mobility essential for a free society.” The recommendation will be the basis for much future legislation so that our youth may have better chances to grow into happy and responsible adulthood amidst the problems of this changing world. Fruzsina Harsányt ---------------o--------------MINISTRY TO YOUTH CALLED OBSOLETE (R.N.W.)—Current youth programs of the nation’s Protestant churches are not meeting the real needs of young people, members of the General Board of the National Council of Churches were told in Detroit. Adequate planning must begin now, the Rev. Donald O. Newby declared, if the churches are to meet the needs of youth in a nation whose population will have increased by 60 per cent in 1975. Mr. Newby is executive secretary of the United Christian Youth Movement which serves some ten million young people across the nation. In an analysis of UCYM policies and programs which he presented to the General Board, Mr. Newby also urged that consultations on a more effective ministry to youth be set up “because present patterns are obsolete.” Already under way in almost all the 50 states is a series of youth work retreats, he reported. At these meetings, which will continue during the coming year, groups of denominational youth leaders are exploring ways of helping young people adjust to the pressures of today’s living. HOLLAND An Amsterdam church holds two lunch-hour services every week-day, for office and factory workers and for school children. Preachers are chosen from various churches.
