Evening star., 1950-03-05
This Week in Religion
Reds Believed Seeking Support
of ProtestQnts in Hungary

A significant development in
the church situation in Soviet
controlled Eastern European
countries was seen this week in
the appointment of Joseph Dar-
vas, formerly minister of recon-
struction, as minister of religion
and education in the Hungarian
Cabinet.
Mr. Darvas, a Lutheran lay
man, replaces DR.. Julius Ortutay,
a Roman Catholic, who resigned
for undisclosed reasons. The new
appointee is the first Protestant
ever to head the ministry Of re-
ligion. Because of Hungary's
predominantly Catholic popula-
ton, the portfolio traditionally
has been held by a Catholic.
Move Is More Than Rebuff.
On the surface, his appointment
might seem to be deliberate
rebuff to the Catholic hierarchy
whose members have refused to
take the oath of loyalty to the
Communist regime.
However, informed CHURCH cir
cles here believe the appointment
was more likely inspired by a
policy of seeking wider and more
active support Of the government
from the nations Protestant
groups-mainly Lutherans and
reformed.
This Interpretation is based on
the belief that a large segment OF
Hungarian Professionalism is hos
tile to the Communist order. 1t
is known that many Lutherans
and Reformed do not see eye to
eye with some of their top leaders
who are strongly pro-government
and who, in some recent cases,
have been hand-picked for their
political conformity.
Protestants Badly Split.
That discomfort exists in Protes-
tant ranks was indicated by Mr.
|Darvas when he was installed as
|lay inspector of the Banyai (Mon-
tana) Diocese of the Lutheran
Church a few days before his new
appointment was announced.
In his inaugural speech, Mr.
|Darvas spoke in sharp terms OF
what he called "Mindszentysm
among Protestants. This. he lndl-
Gated, was a policy which would
place the church under influence
of dispossessed and politically dis
satisfied elements OF the popula-
ton.
Another Lutheran leader who
has intimated even more clearly
that Hungarian Protestants are
far from being in conformity with
the government Is DR.. Ivan Reok,
l. lay president Of the church.
Lay Presidents Talk.
In an address at the annual con-
| ference of the Banyai Diocese last
October in which he explained his
reasons for supporting the gov
ernment, DR.. Reok said he knew
the great majority of pastors dis
agreed with him, but he would try
to convince them Of the necessity
Of supporting his point OF view.
AS it later uanspired. "this con-
vincing" meant ordering Lutheran
pastors to attend two-day courses
of "re-education" in Budapest,
consisting Of lectures by DR.. Reok
and other pro-government church.
men.
Another significant feature OF
the October conference was the
declaration made by one pastor
present processing continued loyal
| ty to the bishop of the diocese
and ruling head Of the church, DR..
Lajos Ordass, who Is still in prison
on charges Of foreign currency
manipulation.
Some Support Bishop Ordass.
After Bishop Lajos Kemeny had
presented his report as acting
head Of the diocese, and had made
no mention of Bishop Ordass. the
pastor rose to say:
"The acting bishop has told the
conference about all the events Of
the year, but he has not uttered
a word about our beloved bishop.
I ask the conference to put it on
record that all of us are standing
behind our bishop with the old
love and loyalty, and with hearts
full Of prayer for him"
Still further evidence of dis