calls from at least one prime minister to reintroduce Christian values in the country’s post-Communist society.
With Russian troops long gone, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told BosNewsLife he has asked Hungary to bring back Christian values, fifteen years after it officially dumped Communism with democratic elections, ending decades of religious and political persecution.
And, he said, he wants a similar "Christian debate" in the other nine countries which, like Hungary, joined the European Union last year.
Balkenende made the remarks in Budapest, where he obtained a Hungarian honorary decree from the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University earlier this month. He received the document for his efforts to "introduce Christian values in politics and society" and as a sign of "thankfulness to the Dutch people for their support throughout the centuries," explained Rector Ferenc Szucs.
SOCIAL THOUGHT
In addition the prime minister was honored for his previous work as professor of "Christian social thought on society" and economics at the Free University in Amsterdam, he said.
Another Dutchman, Abraham van de Beek, professor in the Symbols of the Church at the same Free University, received an honorary decree as well. It came at a time of concern within Hungarian Christian organizations and churches over what they see as unethical developments, including the possible government backed introduction of an abortion pill and euthanasia.
"I think it is important that the role of Christian values are possible in politics. And I hope that
the discussion about Christian values will be happening in Hungary," said Balkenende, a Christian Democratic politician. 20-somethings studying at the Karoli Gaspar university agree. "I think a Christian can better govern," said one of them, Ilona Bob, who studies Theology and hopes to become a pastor.
SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT
Yet, Hungary is currently ruled by a Socialist-led government and it remained unclear whether it would rush to meet Balkenende’s demands.
Balkenende urged Hungarians, including apparently former rightwing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a breakfast, to support his plan for "a dialogue between the European Union and churches and other religious organizations," which he described as "very important." He denied his "values" are unclear for most people.
"Think about solidarity, caring for future generations, solidarity for others. I think people feel inituative if you live in a society where people care for each other or in a society where everybody lives for himself," he told BosNewsLife.
THANKFULL MAN
Balkenende stressed he was "very thankful to the Lord Jesus" to have received the Hungarian honorary decree for these values from the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University, which was opened in 1993 as one of the first Protestant universities in the former East Block.
The university was named after the first Hungarian to translate the whole Bible in the Hungarian language in the 16th century. Balkenende received the document in the recently integrated Theological Faculty of the university which celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Receiving the honorary decree was another milestone for the Prime Minister, who has tried to shrug off his image as the Dutch "Harry Potter," after the world famous boy magician character created by writer J.K. Rowling. A slightly old-fashioned character with a traditional hairstyle and small round spectacles, the 49-year old Balkenende radiates reliability and acumen, Dutch commentators say.
"CROQUETTE MOTION"
Initially, Balkenende was a relative newcomer in national politics after spending many years as an Alderman in his native Amstelveen, near the capital Amsterdam. There, he had become famous for the so-called "croquette-motion", a widely supported demand for the fatty balls of mince meat to be served at lengthy local council meetings.
But as he matured in politics, his views were quickly noticed in Hungary, suggested Anne-Marie Kool, director of the Budapest based Protestant Center for Mission Studies. "It is my impression that Prime Minister Balkenende is seen as an example for Christian politics in Hungary, how not to be ashamed for your Christian faith," she explained BosNewsLife.
She said that "under Communism Christianity was treated as something for a gettho, something very much for indoors. Now there is a search in Hungary to bring Christianity in the open…" Over 50 percent of Hungary’s roughly 10 million-strong population are Catholics, while Protestant Christians comprise about 20 percent. Christianity was first introduced here by King Stephen, around 1000 AD, historians say.
