Never during this century have we paid so much attention to injustice in central and eastern Europe as since the changes took place in 1989. Hungarians have long felt a historical fate upon themselves; one oppression followed another; Turks, Habsburgs, Russians all ruled our country. Hungarian history therefore is a good example itself for injustices, however these injustices have not been considered so consciously for centuries and the era that still has its consequences on our present situation or way of thinking - the period between 1948-1989 - did not respond to the challenges of injustices in an adequate way, rather the concept of injustice as such was swept under the carpet as if it did not exist.

This was especially true for believers or regular churchgoers, who were often discriminated against because of their faith, or at best were only tolerated. Discrimination is always very simple, you only have to deal with the basic necessities, like accommodation, work, etc. I know of an elderly lady who first was not allowed to move to the capital city, because she was a pastor’s wife, then for years she could not teach in any school in Budapest, because she was a pastor’s wife. This has obviously determined my mother’s life. Being more objective, I must tell you that the situation was not that strict at least in Hungary during the two last decades of Communist rule - perhaps as a result of the 1956 uprising. In many ways people learnt to live with unhealed injustices, giving up some moral values. But I guess more trouble occurred in other eastern European countries.

To understand Hungary’s present situation, you also must know about our economic crisis, which is closely connected with the image of ‘just, socialist society’. Hungary, as well as other countries of the region, used to maintain a standard of living that provided the most necessary items for a person relatively cheaply, and offered free social security, but created a false picture in people at the same time. This level of a moderate living was the counterbalance of the missing political rights, and even that fair distribution of goods was not true, in every country of the region some people who showed loyalty to the Party advanced quicker and higher than others. The pretended justice could only be maintained by receiving foreign loans, which amounted to tens of billions of dollars in some countries in central Europe. Still, I believe, that was the price of our freedom, since the old system would not have collapsed without a dying economy. The years that passed since 1989 have not brought an economic boom with them, what’s more. Rather, things got worse. But our dreams have ended. No one claims to live in a just society any more.

Youth and injustice

Youth seem to be losing the floor under their feet. Without the help of their parents it is often very hard to make ends meet. Living in a parish house, almost every week I find someone - often young people - ringing the bell to ask for some clothes, shoes that they can sell, or even some food. Hungarian society is not ready to help young people properly, churches need to carry a bigger responsibility for that.

The root of injustices is connected with the loss of social security. As I mentioned earlier, people had no unemployment, the state took good care of them, which was easy to get used to. Now, those young people who did not have a fair chance to receive a proper education (those who live in underdeveloped parts of the country, or the Gypsy population, who are not universally welcomed) are often restricted to unemployment benefit, because they do not have the chance to receive a job soon. Maybe young people in western Europe have developed some strategies already, but with us the lack of jobs - unemployment used to be a crime 7 years ago - is still a new phenomenon.

I think housing is just as big a problem. Supposing you are a university graduate, who wants to get married and have a family, you have no chance to buy a flat of your own for years. You do not save money during your studies, because usually you do not study in your home town and you must work for your own board, lodging and school fee, the rest you have to spend on books, transport, etc.

Injustices surround us so much that the youth do not even consider any more what they could do to struggle against them. Pessimism and disinterest have taken power on them, demonstrations can be held, but they would not help either. Some of them have trusted political solutions, they support parties or look forward to another government, but they will be disillusioned too. The two slogans characterizing youth today are apathy towards present-day reality and the old Latin saying carpe diem (enjoy the day) for their free time. Alcohol consumption and drug addiction are threatening dangers among youth.

Special attention should be paid to children as well, because they are the ones who can influence the injustices least, but suffer their effect most. Perhaps the greatest injustice towards them is that they may not be born. The number of births has been decreasing in Hungary for about 20 years, and this will result in a reduction of the nation’s population. Once they are born, mothers may stay at home with them up to three years, but finances force most of them to go back to work. Nowadays, you can hear about many children who do not get breakfast before going to school, or children whose parents cannot afford to pay for their lunch in the school canteen. These examples of injustice often make citizens blame the government, but no real solution has been achieved yet.

Church and injustice

Now, after all these examples you may feel that money is the solution to all injustice. But in fact this is not true, and we haven’t got enough money. What then? Can’t we find any improvement? Well, probably no method will ever make injustices cease to exist, except for the most radical one, the return of Jesus Christ. However, his church is able, through him, to reduce the damages.

The Reformed Church in Hungary represents the Calvinist tradition in a dominantly Catholic area. Taken together with the Hungarian Reformed churches of neighbouring Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia it must be the biggest Reformed community in central and eastern Europe.

The Reformed Church in Hungary has long been famous for its secondary schools and we witnessed a revival of Reformed secondary schools in Hungary in the last few years. These schools can prepare children for their university studies and provide them with a school atmosphere - a spiritual support - that they will remember all their life. The schools’ role cannot be overestimated. Teenagers that the congregations lose sight of right after confirmation classes have ended, they have in front of their eyes for four years.

Referring to the Hungarian Reformed churches outside Hungary’s borders, I think the Reformed Church can offer opportunities to meet and exchange experiences to the Hungarian young people living on both sides of the borders. One of the greatest injustices in Hungarian history can be struggled with through church contacts. A good example is the third world conference of Hungarian Reformed churches that will take place in Romania this summer. Our church can initiate church youth organizations to create contacts between youth groups. That can break isolation.

Within the church some injustices have already been solved. Ordination of women is accepted; bishops and seniors can only be elected for a limited period of time, etc. Some others do exist, for instance in the field of diakonia (service) there are far more elderly people wanting to live in church social care houses, than the available places. The selection here must be arbitrary, even with full empathy, but that cannot be helped very soon. The young cannot take part in the leadership of congregations enough; presbyteries (church sessions) usually consist of elderly if not old people. I hope this imbalance will be corrected.

But as a whole the Reformed Church should not become introverted, but react to injustice in the world. We cannot solve all injustices by one magic stroke, but we can give hope to the people that in spite of their difficulties there is someone who loves them and someone they can trust, our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot act as great politicians, humanitarian thinkers, or people who could create a brave new world, but we can pray for all who are persecuted, and act ourselves in individual cases, if we have the power to help.

As I read the theme of the next general council and Youth Forum - to be held in Debrecen, Hungary in August 1997, where we hope to meet many of you - I continued reading the passage. There it said: ‘ If you feed the hungry from your own plenty and satisfy the needs of the wretched, then your light will rise like dawn out of darkness and your dusk be like noonday’ (Is 58.10). May God give us that!

Mihály Kovács of the Reformed Church in Hungary teaches English and German and is studying to become a translator.