Pastor Tamas Csuka along with another Lutheran clergyman and a Catholic priest, attended the induction ceremony of the first 56 members of the ‘Magyar Garda’, or ‘Hungarian Guard’, founded by the far right ‘Movement For The Better Hungary’ (Jobbik) party.
Jobbik is known for its anti-Jewish, anti-Roma and anti-Gay rhetoric, raising eyebrows among human rights groups and international Jewish and Roma organizations.
During the event near the presidential palace in Budapest’s Castle District last Saturday, August 25, Csuka "blessed" the Magyar Garda, whose members wear uniforms resembling Nazis.
ARPAD FLAG
Enthusiastic supporters were seen waving ‘Arpad’ flags, once used by Hungary’s ruling pro-Nazi Arrow-Cross party during World War Two, when about 600,000 Hungarian Jews were massacred.
"May God’s blessing follow the people under these banners… I pray that these flags should be fearful to all those that attempt to do even the smallest financial, spiritual, or physical harm to Hungary," Csuka was heard saying at the event, in reference to the ‘Arpad’ flag.
Reformed Bishop Istvan Szabo declined to make comments before the investigation was completed.
On Friday, August 31, he received unexpected support from Hungarian Defense Minister Imre Szekeres who told Hungarian media his ministry had also launched an investigation as Csuka is "a retired Brigadier-General".
PASTOR "UNWORTHY"
The Defense Ministry’s State Secretary, Agnes Vadai, told the left-leaning Hungarian newspaper Nepszabadsag, or ‘People’s Freedom’, that "if the investigation deems Csuka’s action as having been unworthy of a pastor, the relevant authorities will respond accordingly."
The case has underscored concerns about anti-Semitism within at least some major churches
in Hungary. Hungary’s Reformed Church was already forced to take action against Pastor Lorant Hegedus, who was also a former vice president of the far right Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIEP).
In 2001 he suggested in his party’s newsletter to segregate Jews from "the Hungarian Christian nation" saying that "if we do not they will take our places." The synod of Hungarian Reformed Church later declared the article irreconcilable with the Gospel and the Christian faith.
"FASCIST METHODS"
"Since not all Palestinians can be smoked out of the banks of the Jordan river by using Fascist methods that shame even the Nazis, they are now coming again here, to the banks of the Danube river, sometimes as internationalists, sometimes by showing off their national sentiments, sometimes as cosmopolitans, to kick once more into the Hungarians," Hegedus wrote.
"Hungarians, based on the heritage and legal continuity of 1,000 years, listen to the only life-offering message of the 1,000th Christian Hungarian year: Exclude them, because if you do not do so, they will do it to you!", he added.
While acknowledging that the remarks "may have been offensive, shocking and alarming" the Budapest Court of Appeal later overturned his 18-month suspended prison sentence, saying Hegedus’ writings did "not constitute a crime."
POLITICAL LEADERS
Hungary’s political leaders on Friday, August 31, expressed concerns about extremism and condemned the formation of the Magyar Garda. However Tibor Navracsics, the parliamentary leader of Hungary’s largest rightist opposition party, Fidesz, said the current Socialist-Liberal coalition was partly to blame for the problem.
Navracsics told reporters that the government’s focus on the far-right was aimed at distracting attention from widespread discontent over the government’s austerity measures, to reduce the
largest budget deficit within the European Union, which have made the Socialist-Liberal coalition unpopular.
Last September, anti-government riots erupted on the streets of Budapest after an audio tape was leaked in which Gyurcsany admitted to having lied to voters about the economy to win re-election. Hungarians expect new far-right protests on September 17, the first anniversary of the tape being leaked. Hundreds of people were injured during last year’s riots, amid allegations of police brutality.
