Open Letter Of The Hungarian
Nationality Believers´And Their Priests´
To The
Slovak Episcopal Conference
As it is known by the public, the
reorganisation of the Catholic dioceses as well as the establishment of two new
dioceses were declared by the highest authorities of the Catholic Church
on 14th February, 2008. According to this, the Slovak Episcopal Conference has
published a statement to priests and believers inspiriting them to gratitude for
the reorganisation.
We, the parish priests of the multinational territories hand in hand with the
believers of the Hungarian minority living at this area ,would like to express
our deep disappointment to the abovementioned statement . The reasons are the
following:
a/ The Slovak Episcopal Conference in he plan of the reorganisation has not
taken into consideration the fact of taking apart the unity of the Hungarian
nationality living together in natural unity at the territory of Bratislava
Trnava Archdiocese.We are worried, that a fast, not always visible, assimilation
of the Hungarian minority will be seen after the reorganisation. Except of this,
we feel somehow a hidden aim in departing the believers of the Hungarian
minority into four dioceses, territorially it is not the more suitable west �
east but the less suitable north south division.
We have taken cognizance of your decision, but we are not satisfied, it makes us
feel unhappy, like a couple in a forced marriage.
b/ We were hopefully waiting for the day, the Slovak Episcopal Confernce would
ask The Holy Apostolic See by the reorganisation of the dioceses a
Hungarian nationality bishop´s nomination or a bishop´s nomination with all
jurisdiction for the territories with mixed nationalities like the Chaplain
Genaral to the forces or any other suitable way.
The Slovakian Bishops could show a noble gesture towards the Hungarian catholic
minority and their priests, on the other hand it could be the
manifestation of a real brotherhood, brotherly love and an evidence of the
Slovakian catholics´ unity.
Mostly 400 000 of the Hungarian minority confess themselves a Catholic in
Slovakia. Our hope was getting stronger and stronger after an equitable
settlement of our Greek Catholic brothers. We were waiting something similar
would happen with us, and the Slovak Episcopal Conference could make a positive
solution for us. Alas, we stated with a sorrow in our heart , that the position
of the Hungarian minority would become worse after the reorganisation, in case
the Slovak Episcopal Conference would not think about them in a short time.
The Hungarian minority had a good enough pastoral suppliment in the former
Bratislava Trnava Archdiocese, on the level of a bishop, able to
speak Hungarian, making as a result a reviving spiritual life of the Hungarian
minority believers.
Neither in the statement of the reorganisation nor in the declaration of the
Slovak Episcopal Conference, the Hungarian catholic minority, a promise to find
favourable resolution to its pastoral suppliment, were mentioned. We are
disappointed, because Slovakia is a multinational country with a lot of
minorities living there.
c/ Unfortunatelly, working out the plan of the reorganisatoin it was no
consultation with the parishes - the closest collegues of the bishops-
knowing best all about the situation of the dioceses. It was like in a slogan of
ours � they made decision about us without us, although it was a historical
event, touching seriously the future of the Catholic Church in Slovakia.
We are aware of the fact, that the Church is not Hungarian or Slovak, but Roman
� Catholic, Greek Catholic, on the other hand we have to mention, that the
Church consists of different nations, after all the Roman Catholic Church in
Slovakia consists of the members of the Slovak nation and other
nationalities, all they avow themselves a Roman Catholic. Naturally, the Slovak
believers have Slovak bishops. Our question is: Would it be an offence to have a
Hungarian nationality member at the Slovak Episcopal Conference, representing
the 400 000 Hungarian nationality catholics, being also the members of the
Catholic Church in Slovakia?
If we look around in the surrounding countries, for example in Ukraine, the
Slovak Catholic minority has its own Slovak bishop, Excellency, Mons. Milan �á�ik.
There is an eparchy in Toronto / Canada/, for 10.400 Greek Catholics with 7
parishes, with a Slovak bishop, personally, Exellency, Mons. John Pa�ak.
The Slovak catholics living in the USA also have a Slovak bishop, Exellency,
Mons. Jozef Viktor Adamec. The Hungarian minorities also have bishops of
Hungarian nationality everywhere, as in Romania, Serbia so in Ukraine. The
exception is Slovakia, where the 400 000 membered Hungarian minority does not
have a bishop, yet. They do not have a bishop having a comission to the pastoral
support of this strong community of the Hungarian nationality, either.
It´s a paradox, that the Romanic catholic minority in Slovakia has its
commissioned bishop, Excellency, Mons. Bernard Robert, however their population
is smaller than of the Hungarian minority´s.
According to the question of the distance to the bishop´s residence. Our opinion
is, that the bishop is much closer to us if he can speak our language,
understands the situation we occured and symphatizes with us. As our Slovak
brothers besides of our faith,we want to keep our identity.
Phisically, the distance does not mean much in our life, neither in our diocese
nor in the EU.
We are also aware of the fact, that the bishop´s nomination is The Holy
Apostolic See´s exclusive right, but it is also evident that in
particular cases The Holy Apostolic See is asked by the diocesan or by the
Slovak Episcopic Conference to nominate a bishop.
Thereby, that The Holy Apostolic See has not nominated a Hungarian nationality
bishop with all jurisdiction, yet it means for us that the Slovak Episcopic
Conference has not asked The Holy Apostolic See so far, not with
standing we have been asking to manage our request for years on Prayer Days in
Komárno and in other events,too.
The II. Vatican Synod Christus Dominus Decree´s 23rd paragraph says:
In determining a diocesan boundary, as far as possible consideration should be
given the variety in composition of the people of God, for this can contribute
greatly to a more effective exercise of the pastoral office. At the same time
the natural population units of people, together with the civil juridictions and
social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as
far as possible as units. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each
dioceses should be continuous.
Attention should also be given, if necessary to civil boundaries and the special
characteristics of regions and peoples, such as their psychological, economic,
geographic and historical backgrounds.
......Also, where similar situations exist, provision should be made for a
faithful of different language groups, either through priests or parishes of the
same language, or through an episcopal vicar well versed in the language � and
if needs be having the episcopal dignity, or at least in some other more
appropriate way.
The 2nd§ of the CIC´s 372nd canon gives an opportunity to establish particular
churches by language and national identity / by the analogy of the 518th canon
of the CIC/ on the territory of each diocese where believers of Hungarian
nationality live.
We respectfully ask you, The Right Reverends , to listen to the 400 000
Hungarian nationality believers´ request and interpret it to The Holy See. We
all want the Church´s favour in Slovakia, but to the full
satisfaction of all believers ,we have to take into consideration the judical
rights of the nationalities. After that, we will have all rights for joy and
thanksgiving. But not for that time.
The saloniki´s brothers St. Cyrill and Method left us a nice and wise sample of
a successful evangelisation. Because of their love to the Slovans they became
the masters of the nation´s mother tongue starting to preach the Gospel.The
succes was amazing The Slovans received Christianity.
As a result of their care, their descendents became priests of the nation. For
the sake of the present time successful evangelisation, it would be useful
to follow their instance.
We all pray with you: Save our Fathers´ heritage, Lord
We are definitely convinced that the letter´s content will not be understood as
a disrespect against the dignitaries of the church. This letter was not written
by that intention, we wanted only to show the faith of the Hungarian believers
to the highest dignitaries of the church.
We will continue to ask the Lord to listen to our requests on Prayer Days in
different parishes, emphasizing it by the signatures of our believers and
hearten on the words of the Good Shepherd:
Ask and will be given.
We sincerely thank you for your paternal
understanding.
With respectful Catholic greeting: Laudetur
Jesus Christus!
The believers of the Hungarian nationality in Slovakia and their priests working
at mixed - nationality territories.
Dunajská Streda. 26th February 2008