Amid the wreckage that secularism and Islamification have brought to Europe (economic collapse, ever escalating crime rates, social breakdown, abortion, euthanasia, religious intolerance), Hungary hopes to rebuild its culture by looking to its Christian heritage.The new government of Hungary has proposed a new constitution that would, among other dramatic changes, restore protection to the unborn and define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Here's LifeSiteNews with the story.
Should these constitutional changes be adopted, they would create a complete about-face for Hungary, which currently has one of the most liberal abortion laws in Europe.
An ad-hoc parliamentary committee in charge of drafting the constitution has presented the draft document for debate in the Hungarian National Assembly between Dec. 10 and 15, before being submitted to a vote. If the document is approved by parliament, new changes to the constitution will only be possible if two subsequent parliaments vote on identical changes with the backing of a two-thirds majority on each occasion, the document stated.
The newly governing party, Fidesz, is usually described in the European media as “centre-right” and socially conservative. It rules in a coalition government with the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP). This April, the Fidesz/KNDP coalition won a huge landslide victory with a two-thirds majority, with Fidesz winning 263 of 386 seats in the National Assembly. Fidesz started its political life as a student-led anti-communist party who were actively persecuted by the regime. Its power has grown in successive elections since winning 8.95 percent of the vote in 1990, to its current 52.73 percent.
Modern Hungary’s first constitution was adopted in 1949 when the country was under communist rule. This was heavily amended in 1989 when communism in Europe was collapsing, and the current revision was announced earlier this year. If it is adopted, the new constitution will be the country’s first under a democratic government.
A pro-life constitution would mean a massive shift in Hungarian law, and a nearly unprecedented change for any EU country. Under communist rule abortion was allowed without restriction and was paid for by the state since the 1950s. Hungary’s current abortion rate, at nearly 30 percent of all pregnancies, is one of the highest in Europe.
Hungary’s birth rate is similar to that of many European countries spiraling down into a demographic crisis, with a general fertility rate of 1.39 children born per woman and a median age for women of 42.6 years. Population growth rate is - 0.156 per cent...
The new government’s plans have already come under attack by Europe’s intellectual liberals with an editorial piece appearing in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, warning that the European Union needs to “send a message” to Hungary’s new government, which it accuses of “dismantling the rule of law and eroding a fragile democratic political culture.”
Why not join me in sending a Christmas note to encourage the Hungarian leaders who are making this bold new move? I'm sending along an e-mail message to the political party Fidesz in care of the Hungarian Civic Union (fidesz@fidesz.hu) and a Christmas card through the regular post to the Hungarian ambassador to the United States. That address is:Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in USA
3910 Shoemaker Street, N.W.
20008 USA
The message?
Having read of the visionary and idealistic constitution being proposed for Hungary by the parliamentary committee in the new government, I wanted to write and commend those who are seeking to bring this new constitution to reality. My Christmas prayer is that Hungary will adopt this enlightened constitution and thus provide a beacon for the rest of Europe.
It is so exciting to hope that the pro-life, pro-family ethics that once distinguished Hungary as one of the most enlightened and noble countries in Europe will again be promoted and that Hungary might be looking to its finest hour.
Please pass on to other officials there the sincere respect and appreciation which many Americans are feeling for Hungary in the light of this honorable, humane and progressive constitutional proposal.
Denny Hartford
Director, Vital Signs Ministries
Teaching Pastor, Faith Bible Church
(My street address & zip code)
