Western Christianity was adopted in Hungary in the first millennium. St Stephen, the first king of Hungary (997–1038), laid out the foundations of the Catholic Church. Although Hungary has been intensely influenced by western Christianity throughout history, there has always been a presence of Orthodox minorities. The Reformation was highly successful in the 16^th century and the Reformed Church became the wellspring of national cultural development. Even though the Counter-Reformation was successful, the country has preserved a high level of denominational pluralism.

The coexistence of Catholics and Protestants, though not wholly free of conflicts, proved to be the source of an enrichment of both national and local culture.

In 1895 religious freedom for all was proclaimed. Public worship was nevertheless restricted to acknowledged communities. The law made it possible for religious communities to become acknowledged.

After World War II democratic structures were abolished, e.g. human rights, when the Communists took over. Clergy and lay believers were systematically harassed by the Communist authorities. Religious freedom ceased to exist. By the 1970s and 1980s, churches were free to worship within their own buildings. The situation did not change until 1989.

Today the churches in Hungary are independent from the state. They are trying to find their new role in society.

II. Social Facts

Religious denomination cannot be registered by the State according to legislation. Accordingly there are no official statistics on religious denominations. The 2001 census included a question about religion. Response was anonymous and optional.

According to that census, about 54.5% of the population consider themselves to be Catholic (Roman or Greek). Another 15.9% consider themselves to be Reformed (Calvinist). 14.5% are without denomination and about 10.1% did not answer the question. There is also a number of minorities, e.g. Jews, Lutherans, and Baptists.

The largest Orthodox Church in Hungary is the Romanian Orthodox Church, followed by the Moscow Patriarchate and the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

There are also a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Muslims.

III. Basic Categories of the System

The most important principle governing the relationship of the State with the religious communities is neutrality. There is no official ideology, neither religious, nor secular.

Secondly there is the principle of separation. The meaning of this principle may be defined on the one hand, by respecting the autonomy of the churches and on the other hand by denying the churches the use of state pressure in order to enforce their internal laws and rules.

The State does not play any role in the relationship between the individual and his or her church.

The third relevant principle is co-operation. Even though there is a strict separation between Church and State, both parties are open to co-operation for the common good and are willing to work together, especially in the field of public services.

IV. Cultural and societal exercise of functions

More than 10 % of secondary education is run by `Church schools`. In Hungary all schools have to stick to a national core curriculum. That means the schools are free to establish their own teaching programme, as long as they fulfil the standard requirements. Consequently, church schools are free to teach religion in any way they like. There is a large variety of school textbooks and religious symbols are allowed on the building as well as in the classrooms. The church schools are allowed to select their staff as well as their pupils according to religious principles – none of which is allowed in public schools. The State provides equal funding for church schools.

Religious education in public schools is held by the religious communities. The grades do not appear in school reports and the teacher of religion is not a member of the school staff, but employed by the church. The school is obliged to provide appropriate time for religious classes.

There are no theological faculties at State universities in Hungary. But the churches are granted the right to maintain universities and other institutions of higher education in order to provide training in any field. Professors of church universities are appointed by both the President of the Republic and the maintaining church.

Churches have the same right to provide mass media as may other bodies. There are religious as well as church programmes in the public media. There are several local radio stations which are run by the Catholic Church. The public media reserve air time to eight religious communities. Representatives of religious communities also have seats in public media boards.

IV. Legal foundations

The sources of ecclesiastical law in Hungary are the Constitution, Acts of Parliament, Decrees of the Government and of Government Ministers.

Section 60 of the Constitution states, that everyone has the right to the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes the freedom to exercise, teach and express or decline to exercise, teach and express such religions and convictions. The separation of State and Church is expressly mentioned in this Section.

There are also several Acts that are relevant to church activities, e.g. taxation, education etc.

Furthermore there are agreements with the Holy See, e.g. for setting up an army chaplaincy.