A Church put to the test

A Church which is strongly committed in its mission, in youth formation and in assisting the sick and the poor within an “old” and extremely secularized society. However, this Church is witnessing a “conscience awakening” and a “renewed interest on the part of the youth”. With these words, His Eminence Cardinal Péter Erdö, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, President of Hungary’s Bishops Conference and of CCEE, in Rome for his “ad limina” visit, drew an outline of the Catholic Church in Hungary to Giovanna Pasqualin Traversa for Sir Europe. Out of 10 million inhabitants Christians are over 8 and a half million, 6 million of whom are Catholics. After the years of totalitarianism, what’s the current situation of the Church in Hungary? “After the fall of the regime we had to recover the traditional Church activities no longer practiced since 1948: school education and health care services. Catholic schools currently represent 6% of the total number, but there is still much work to be done to strengthen its identity. It is our belief – and the parents’ response confirms it – that a high-quality school is a true expression of Christian charity. It is necessary to find new forms and involve those who are ‘distant’. Various initiatives have been undertaken in parishes. While diocesan synods traced the guidelines for development. The low number of priests is however strongly felt”. Education to faith must begin with the youth. How? “Through catechesis in parishes and in our schools. However, It should take place also in public schools where religious education is currently studied, although it’s an optional subject. Unlike other Countries, in Hungary the teaching of this subject isn’t confined to religious information only. It also includes actual catechesis. In other words, we have the right to inform and convince the youth, since institutions appreciate the Church’s contribution to society”. Which other formative contribution does the Church provide? “A few years ago we resumed the dialogue with the cultural environment which the regime had abruptly interrupted. In 1992, having detected the need for high-level scientific, ethic and human education, and of highly-skilled professionals, Hungarian bishops founded the Catholic University in Budapest: five scientific and humanistic faculties, 11thousand students and some 700 professors. A very lively institution, which does however require a deep commitment as relates to identity consolidation and because of the constant reforms. It is necessary to keep the pace with scientific discoveries in order to preserve a high training and academic level”.During these days you had an audience with the Pope along with other Hungarian bishops … “We expressed him our concerns, projects and hopes. Families and the value of life fall within the priorities in the field of mission and formation. The Country is undergoing a dramatic demographic situation. Population decreases by 50-60thousand each year and is increasingly older. This is also due to widespread abortion. It’s a deeply secularized society. Marriages are undergoing crises, there are many divorces and de facto couples. Family values are lost. We must gives signs for hope, encourage families to have more children and support them in this task. One of these signs are our counseling centers for young mothers. With Benedict XVI we also addressed the issue of information-formation on the social doctrine of the Church. The decreased value ascribed to concepts such as the common good, co-responsibility, citizens’ rights and duties raises much concern. Society must be re-educated. We are called to commit ourselves for the poor, the old and the sick. These, because of current changes in the national health system, are left without health care and medicines. There are four Catholic hospitals in Hungary. But the funding system of health care institutions is about to collapse”. What would be the positive elements, if you were to draw and ideal balance? “We noticed an awakening and a renewed missionary spirit in parishes and spiritual movements. There is increased interest on the part of the youth, especially after the “great city mission’ held past fall in Budapest, marking the conclusion of evangelizing missions in European capital cities (Vienna 2003, Paris 2004, Lisbon 2005 and Brussels 2006, ed.’s note). We undertook encouraging initiatives for the Roma people. These include the Bible’s translation into their own language. The “Year of the Bible”, established for 2008, was the occasion to hold a series of ecumenical events. At the beginning of June, we will distribute the Scriptures to Parliamentary deputies along with two Protestant Bishops”.