‘It is clear that our government programme cannot be implemented without making sacrifices, and without everyday struggle, or even extraordinarily heroic efforts,’ said László Szászfalvi, Minister of State for Church, Civil Society and Nationality Affairs, on Tuesday, when he addressed the conference ‘Heroes, Martyrs and Sacrifice from the 20th Century Reformed Church in Hungary’ at the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary.

Mr Szászfalvi said: ‘Heroic sacrifice is necessary in the life of a society, in the renewal of Hungary, in economic recovery, in the area of culture, and in the spheres of institutional organisation and civil society – just as much as in our own private lives. The example of our forebears – state leaders, people of faith or simply citizens with a love of their country – can be a major inspiration and encouragement to Hungary today.’

The Minister of State went on to say: ‘Hungary’s recently adopted Fundamental Law, which echoes our National Anthem in asking for God’s blessing on all Hungarians, frames our nation’s virtues in terms of a national avowal. It upholds the values of the Bible and commits itself to a future which is to be jointly created, and its closing section declares the need for peace, freedom and accord. I believe that for the accomplishment of this the members of our nation – and not least it leaders – are ready to make their own personal sacrifices in their lives and in their work.’

The conference ‘Heroes, Martyrs and Sacrifice from the 20th Century Reformed Church in Hungary’ took place on 3 May 2011, organised by the Department of Church History in the Faculty of Theology at the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. The conference’s patron was László Tőkés, vice-president of the European Parliament, who sent a written message to conference participants.

(kormany.hu)