Historical aspects of the Catholic Church’s role in the police forces in Hungary

This study presents the police forces in Hungary during the Austro–Hungarian Empire, complete with an analysis of the period between the two world wars. The presentation of organization and structure aims to introduce and analyze the system of relations mainly between the Catholic Church and the police forces. As to the author’s research on local history, when comparing the gendarmerie (in Hungarian “Csendőrség”) and the town police, the study primarily focuses on the police forces of the Royal Town of Sopron and the Royal County of Sopron. The goal is to prove that pastoral care, established through the cooperation between the institutions of pastoral care and the armed forces, was operating within an effective framework during the period encompassing the two world wars.

The Town Police Captaincy ceased op-eration in 1872, its functions, powers and jurisdiction to maintain order in the area was taken over by the municipality police. Its tasks can be defined as follows: residence qualifications, industry affairs, labour books, apprentice contracts, recruitment, maintaining order, issuing fugitive warrants. 4 The panel was headed by a captain, who had been appointed by the local government through tenders. The captain directed the subordinated bodies through the police administration office. 5 The town government exercised full control over the police, so, through vacancy announcements and financing, numerous tasks from subsidizing, purchase and re-placement of uniforms and weaponry, disbursing loans up to retirement were concentrated in one management body. The town leadership paid great attention to education and raising the cultural level of the enlisted police personnel. Clear references to the development and maintenance of the relations between the leadership and enlisted personnel of the Town Captaincy and the Catholic Church can be found in the mayor's 1907 year report. (Töpler, 1908: 32) The town leadership made efforts to establish a small scale library for the enlisted police staff. In the absence of library funds, the library was completed from donations and offerings. (Töpler, 1908: 33) One of these donators was Páder Rezső, the provost of the chapter named after St. George the martyr. He had donated a large number of religious and literary themed books for the enlisted police staff. 6

Presenting religious duties of the policing establishments in Sopron County
From 1881 until 1946, the Royal Hungarian Gendarmerie operated in the area of the King-dom of Hungary, Transylvania and Croatia. The Gendarmerie, unlike the town police, mainly carried out the public security duties of law enforcement in rural Hungary. In personnel, advancement and disciplinary matters, the Gendarmerie reported to the Ministry of Defence while in respect to administrative and police service it was under the control of the Ministry of the Interior. (Csizmadia, 1976: 192-193) In 1925, one Gendarmerie Division Command operated in the area of Sopron Coun-ty having its headquarters in Sopron, under which there were two wing headquarters, five squadron headquarters and twenty post headquarters.
The evaluation of the public security situation in 1925 and the efficient operation of the gendarmerie are presented in the following quote.
"As concerns the restoration of public security, the fullest appreciation is deserved by the Gendarmerie's operation, which already completely relies on peace and is a model-like institution in respect to both discipline and reliability." (Gévay-Wolf, 1926: 38-39) In addition to their public security service, the main task of the Gendarmerie operating in the county was to prevent smuggling and to control the border. In the years after World War I, after the normalization of the public security situation, it was the first time a shortage of gendarme was experienced. This shortage was mainly due to the outbreak of the World War II and the First Vienna Award (1938), as many gendarmes were deployed to Upper Hungary (Felvidék) and Subcarpathia (Kárpátalja) in order to restore public security. (Czillinger, 1941: 44) The ministries that directed the Gendarmerie, in the period between the two World Wars sought to manage the emotional, mental and physical burdens of the gendarmes, implement-ing this through prescribing education, sport activity and spiritual exercise.
When studying the available documents, it becomes apparent that the Gendarmerie's ser-vice regulations and thus their moral mentality was permeated by Christian and religious af-fection, as well the holiness through worship, Church, care for spiritual salvation, conscience and prayer.
To provide an orderly and disciplined gendarme service, knowledge of, and adherence to, moral and religious values was essential. Communication with people, professional ex-ecution of instructions, providing legality of actions and showing an example of respect for private lifeare activities where religious values are always kept in mind.
The books and records available also show how important it was for the implementation of gendarme services that religious duties be exercised. In addition to professional and voca-tional problems, gendarmes were provided support in solving moral and emotional problems as well. All this is sufficiently proved in the pocketbook "A csendőr vallási kötelességeiről szóló" ("About religious duties of a gendarme") officially distributed by the Ministry of De-fence. (Endrődy, 1902) The section on religiosity determines the Gendarmerie to be a strong bulwark of the state and the Church. In the given period, the Church's influence on the gendarme was not only in SZABÓ Csaba: Historical aspects of the Catholic Church's role in the police forces in Hungary terms of human conduct, in displaying moral and religious values, but as a law enforcement agency, which also functioned to support the Church. This was how the relationship between the Church and the law enforcement was solidified. Religion appears as a solid base for the gendarme, protecting him from mental and bodily influences.
"This sure foundation can be no other than the faith and religiosity." (Endrődy, 1902: 76) Without religiosity there is no trust and reverence. Religion is the basis and support for, and developer of, the state and social life, virtue and morality.
"If anyone should be religious, most of all a gendarme should be this". (Endrődy, 1902: 78) A gendarme, similarly to a modern policeman, had a number of problems to contend with. He had to comply precisely with orders and instructions and meet his duties as set out in legislation, also he needed to choose the right social circle and friends, as well as continue a moral and sober lifestyle, setting an example to follow for law-abiding citizens.
"Religion encourages a gendarme to faithfully fulfill his duties even when in greatest dan-ger; religion binds the heart of a gendarme to remain true to his oath and the cause he serves; religion blesses all noble actions of the gendarme and sanctifies his grave." (Endrődy, 1902: 79) The above lines describe all the essential qualities of policemen that help in executing their tasks and show them the way in situations that sometime seem hopeless. In the performance of duties the lawfulness and the humane attitude shall be strived for.
The second part of the section on religiosity is about the importance of faith and prayer. "The unbeliever does not listen to the voice of conscience; has no virtue, no morality, which would exhort and ennoble his apathetic mood; piling sin on sin he finally becomes a burden to himself -and commits suicide." (Endrődy, 1902: 81) Unfortunately, people in despair intentionally take their own lives. They cannot or do not want to face the tasks and problems waiting for them. A suicide can be avoided through co-ordinating desires and needs, thereby creating an emotional balance. (Buda, 2001: 15) There are certain jobs and occupations (e.g., policeman, fireman, doctor, paramedic, soldier, nurse, clergy) where the performance of work tasks is associated with increased mental and physical strain. In most cases, they help people in trouble. Whereas, emotional problems emerging during help-rendering activities can cause internal stress or emotional trauma, to try to man-age these alone and cope with hopelessness alone, may lead the individual to try to escape through suicide. 7 At the same time, solutions offer themselves even for the most hopeless problems. In this case, faith and pastoral care can contribute to alleviating the tension of the soul, thereby saving lives.
"Avoid the company of non-believers because bad company ruins good morals." (Endrődy, 1902: 84) Already more than a hundred years ago, the gendarmes' attention was called to the dan-ger of developing improper social relationships. Virtue and moralitythese two concepts defined the Gendarmerie's motto, by making the gendarmes, during their service, recognize criminal lifestyles, and, in all circumstances, seek to bring these people to justice. Nowadays, instead of morality and virtue, we focus on the concepts of blamelessness, honesty, integrity and being corruption-free. 8 7 Such problems of emotional origin include: partner relationship conflicts (divorce, child custody), issues of financial origin, loss of a job, brushes with the law, problems at workplace (conflict with colleagues and/or a boss), death of a close relative, serious illness, mental disorders, depression, alcohol and/or drug use. " [...] All holidays and Sundays, whenever service allows it, with a humble and eager heart hurry to participate in worship. Not only on the days when the routine order allows, but whenever only you can." (Endrődy, 1902: 87) The manifestation of a Christian attitude and outlook on life have became apparent even to civilians as they could see gendarmes, dressed in uniform, participate in a church service.
The following lines can be read in the memoirs of Bajcsi Károly, retired gendarme captain. "In Táta, every Sunday we went together, that is, in a troop, to the Church located on the Calvary hill for a church service, that is, to listen to the Mass where the gendarmes assisted the priest." (Bajcsi, s.l.) The participation in worship appeared in the Gendarmerie's life as an opportunity, recom-mendation and expectation. The section on religiosity describes the power of prayer and its role in the Gendar-merie's life. "If someone needs prayer, certainly it is a gendarme; it gives him courage in danger and, drop by drop, adds patience to his heart in the various vicissitudes of life, it gives him strength to discharge his duty." (Endrődy, 1902: 90) True religious life can be found not in the postulates of faith and not in church institutions, neither in ordinances, but in your prayers. "All the devoutness of a gracious soul manifests in the words of prayer." (Borbély, 1977: 17) Through prayer, peace and devotion fill the hearts and the entire being of man. As a result of prayer, the mind is purified and, in unity with the happiness of the soul, wins strength and encouragement from God to overcome emerging problems.
The positive expression of Christian moral conduct by Hungarian gendarmes is suffi-ciently reflected by the action by which members of the Royal Hungarian Gendarmerie, with the assistance of Raoul Wallenberg, Embassy counselor and under the protection of the Swedish Embassy, saved lives of thousands of Jewish refugees through defeating attacks of members of the Arrow Cross Party and, in this way, preventing their intended deportation. (Szalay, 2002: 151)

Conclusions
Using and analysing historical examples, and the documents from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, subscribed by the municipality of the Royal Town of Sopron, we have highlighted the system of connections between the contemporary town po-lice and religion and the Church. Reviewing the documents revealed that the town leadership sought to provide professional training and teaching of religious and moral standards to the enlisted police staff by creating a library. We cannot find clear references in the municipal reports and registry books as to what kind of relationships the enlisted police staff was fos-tering with churches, but it could be clearly seen that the local government was seeking to build church relations. SZABÓ Csaba: Historical aspects of the Catholic Church's role in the police forces in Hungary Faith, religion, pastoral care and participation in worship were fully integrated into the life of the Gendarmerie. Routine orders, teaching aids and statutory references discuss the as-piration for Christian, religious and moral behavior for the enlisted staff of the Gendarmerie.

Finale
The present study sought to answer in what form religion, faith and pastoral care had been present in law enforcement agencies and policing establishments in the last centuries, with specially focus on the territorial units in the Royal County of Sopron. The research was di-vided into two parts. First of all, documentary materials on the police of the Royal Town of Sopron, and the mayor's reports found in the Archives of Sopron were the subject of the in-vestigation. Secondly, the documents and sub-prefect's reports concerning the Gendarmerie unit located in the Royal County of Sopron were studied.
It appears from the documents found that the leadership of the Royal Town of Sopron sought to provide professional and cultural development for the police personnel, but the religious and pastoral care was not implemented in an organized manner. As concerns the Gendarmerie serving in the Royal County of Sopron, we found significantly more complex systems of religious and ecclesiastic relationships. The Ministry of Defense, as one of the central governing bodies of the Gendarmerie, purposefully sought to create religion and faith links to Churches. This effort was primarily directed at issuing publications aimed at moral education and ensuring organised participation in worship.
Through amending domestic and international bilateral agreements a possibility can be created to establish the police pastoral service, which would provide efficient support for for manageability of spiritual and moral problems policemen are being faced with.