Hungarian Catholic News
January 2000.

New episcopal letter

The Hungarian Bishops' Confrence presented their newest episcopal letter, titled "For the happier families".

It is a diagnosis of the present situation and meant to be a therapy for it. Some quote. "We hope that the Hungarian society becomes amicable to the families. This has not only economic and legislative conditions, but cultural as well. The public opinion should be changed. Therefore it can not come to fruition at one blow. Only consequent and persistent activity can achieve it step by step.

We call all the leader authorities and persons of the state to start a common and public dialog in which the problems put obstacle in the way of coming to existence of a pro-family society can be raised and solved. This dialog could be run simoultaneously on various forums, such as, ecclesiastical press, parocial communities including experts of the church. The interpretation of the societal phenomenon is supposed to be aboveboard and sensitive" - the letter says. Bishop László Bíró, in charge of the families emphasized, 85% of Hungarian youth is concived that family is not an out-of-date institution. The bishops' confrence would like to attain the cooperation between society and the churches where their constructive criticism could be expressed in the spirit of christianity. As it was pointed out the main problem is not to be looked for in the political structures or economy, but in people themselves. We are surrounded by a coarsened and impersonalized ambiance which has an affect on families.

The letter consists of four parts. Family and marriage in Hungary, Person and community: our image of man, Family and marriage from catholic aspect and Things to do for marriage and family.In the first, facts can be read about the present situation with a retrospect of the near past.

The second part presents the family as a long lasting union of social and personal communities. The third chapter enumerates the typical catholic viewpoints and the last one names the things to be done. In this section tasks of society, of state, of church and of law and order are composed. It was announced at the press confrence that the letter would like to initiate a dialog with the entire society.

The catholic church feels necessary in the interest of families to revise some laws connected with the old age pension, the tax system and embryonyc life. It is written in a benevolent, sober voice, because the conference hopes that can contribute to the change of general opinion by it.

Report on the meeting between the bishops and the Hungarian Pax Romana Forum

On 15th of December the Hungarian Bishops' Confrence received the delegation of the HPRF. This organization congregates the catholic intellectuals of Hungary. They gave an account of their activity going into details in the matter of Romany. The bishops and the HPRF agreed that the problems of gipsies remained serious and grave. Neither christians, nor the church can be indifferent to their problems. They were agreed in the importancy of making more intensive efforts, so the strained relations between romas and non-romas may be harmonious. The catholic church faces the task of the more effective pastoral care and of the integration of gipsies. Archbishop István Seregély, chairman of the HCBC gave utterance to his hope that similar meetings will regularly be held in the future.

The Jubilee Year has begun in Hungary, too

The new year started with an extraordinary legislative session on the first of January, where the parlamentarians legislated the law of millenium. Thereafter the Holy Crown was conveyed from the National Museum to the Parliament where it will be kept from now. On the very day the Hungarian Bishops' Confrence celebrated a solemn mass in the Saint Stephen Cathedral in the presence of the Holy Right. Some highly placed member of the goverment were participant of the mass. The homily was held by István Seregély, archbishop of Eger. He gave thanks for the thousand years we just left behind and expressed his appreciation for what our first king had done. Namely, he laid the foundations of Hungary for christianity and the coming ages justified him. Little nations, like us, could easily be puppets in the hand of empires, but in Jesus' community everybody can learn that we all are siblings in Him- emphasized the archbishop. Over the last thousand years Hungary has been attached to christianity and it remained its only ground to build a happy future on. Hungarians of today should accept this ground and the belonging to the church, because they are the source of life of coming generations-said the archbishop.

Magyar Kurír - Hungarian Catholic News Agency
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