Hungarian Politician Believes European Leaders Cannot Do Without Religious Guidance
European leaders are at risk of straying from the right path, prioritizing economic interests over the well-being of communities, warned the state secretary for church and minority relations in Budapest on Friday.
Speaking at a conference held as part of Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, Miklós Soltész expressed concerns about the emergence of selfishness and ideologies that distort the interests of the world we live in. He criticized the EU’s migration policy, claiming it focuses more on addressing labor shortages within the bloc rather than providing unconditional support to migrants’ countries of origin.
Cardinal Péter Erdő, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, also addressed the conference, highlighting changes in how religion and religious communities are treated in certain European countries. He raised concerns about the transformation of religious education into mere education about religion, stripping it of its deeper cultural and spiritual significance.
Meanwhile, Bishop József Steinbach, president of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary, emphasized the challenges of engaging with individuals who hold vastly different worldviews within the context of Christian service.
Andor Grósz, the leader of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities Mazsihisz, drew attention to the rising levels of anti-Semitism following a terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel. Despite this troubling trend, he noted that the Jewish community in Budapest feels secure in practicing their faith, thanks to the safety guarantees provided by the Hungarian government.
As these religious leaders and representatives of minority communities urge European leaders to consider the broader social and cultural implications of their policies, the question remains: will economic interests continue to overshadow the needs of communities across the continent?
