In an open letter, 10 committed Reformed persons request that Zoltán Balog, who is involved in the so-called pardon case, should not remain a church leader, reports szemlelek.hu.
As is well known: Reformed bishop Zoltán Balog admitted on February 13 that he supported the positive evaluation of the clemency request of Endre K., the former deputy director of the orphanage in Bicske, but at that time he had not yet resigned from his position as bishop or president of the synod, since the bishop 86 percent of those present gave him a vote of confidence at the trustees’ meeting. At the synod meeting on February 16, he then resigned from his position as president, but he has been holding the position of bishop of the Dunamellek church district of the Hungarian Reformed Church ever since. The President of the Republic Katalin Novák and Judit Varga, former Minister of Justice and head of the Fidesz EP list, also resigned due to the case that broke out on February 2.
In the letter sent to the Examiners, those asking for the bishop’s departure write, among other things:
Through Balog’s actions, the church interfered in the functioning of the state when he pardoned Endre K. as bishop and synod president. So, on what basis can the church expect the state not to interfere in the operation of the church? – they ask, and then continue like this:
Bishop Balog’s actions are the epitome of unhealthy, back-and-forth interference and entanglement between the state and the church.
Bishop Zoltán Balog embodies the political vulnerability of our church in one person. He obtained his position with his worldly power and the promise of material benefits, thereby becoming a symbol of materialism in our church. Especially since the outbreak of the pardon case, we are ashamed every day to be members of the church he leads. That is why we are forced to speak out, empowered by more than a thousand people who signed our petition. Please take this shame away from us! – can be read in the letter, in which it is stated:
All signs point to the fact that the church has not learned anything from what happened, and Balog shamefully remains the all-powerful leader of our church after an apparent tactical retreat. According to the statement of Bishop Balog, the new synod president would have been his deputy, Dániel Pásztor. However, according to the latest plans, we are already hearing about Bishop Steinbach from Transdanubia as the Pastoral President of the Synod. The point is that Károly Fekete, the largest and most authoritative leader of the Tiszántúl bishopric, should not be allowed to get a position, since he criticized Bishop Balog. And the terrified synod members are watching from the shoreline how the vote is dictated in advance above their heads. Are you sure that synod members should bear the responsibility for other people’s decisions? It is worth noting that, for example, at Károl University, contrary to the order, not the new synod president, but Bishop Balog, will represent the maintainer, the church. They don’t even give a damn here.
Our message is clear. The Balog case will remain with us for years, if those involved do not wake up. Here, more and more cases from the past and present of Bishop Balog will come up. We will not give in to the financial temptation of evil, the pressure of power, and we will not allow these matters to be swept under the carpet either. We are not the heirs of the wealthy, but of the Protestants, Márton Luther, János Kálvin and the confessors who came before us. Proud Reformed.
The letter was delivered to the Examiners by the following church persons:
- Anikó Vargha, Tököli Parish
- József Levente Kónya, Bocskaikert Parish
- János Lupa, Szigethalmi Parish
- Ákos Hatházy, Fényeslitke Parish
- Gábor Rezes, Debrecen Homokkerti Parish
- Éva Józsa, Debrecen Széchenyi Garden Parish
- Dr. Piroska Lőrincz, Nagyerdei Parish of Debrecen
- László Varga, Hajdúhadházi Parish
- László Gábor, Hajdúhadházi Parish
- Béla Bodnár, Fényeslitke Parish
