The criminalisation of the network of relations among the Church’s employees : The Zalavári-case, 1958

Abstract

In August 1957, during a postal inspection, the state security service intercepted leaflets associated with a Christian Democratic party. The investigation found links between the recipients in the municipality of Ercsi and the Catholic Church and its employees (priests, former members of the Order of the Daughters of the Divine Saviour, cantors, teachers). Tracing this network of contacts eventually led the investigators to the perpetrators.

The balance of power within the parish of Ercsi was significantly altered after a change of parish priest in 1954. Árpád Zalavári, formerly the parish administrator and office worker, lost his influence in the community - essentially at the same time as his retirement. He used his freed energies to work out a party programme, which he relied on his former confidants to promote. He obtained addresses from cantor sister Mária Remigiana Radics, and Béla Czuppon, a former scout leader and council member, helped with the mailing.

Against a party that had never really been formed, the authorities took decisive action. Árpád Zalavári was sentenced to a long prison term in 1958 for initiating the conspiracy to overthrow the democratic state order, Béla Czuppon for actively participating in it, and Mária Radics for promoting it. Several priests who were aware of the programme but clearly distanced themselves from the party organisation were charged with the crime of failing to report it.