The Senate adopted on Wednesday, in plenary session, a legislative proposal establishing 2026 as the "Bishop Márton Áron Year," in order to commemorate the life and work of this Roman Catholic hierarch.
"The year 2026 is hereby designated as the 'Bishop Márton Áron Year,' with the aim of commemorating the life and activity of Bishop Márton Áron, in recognition of the decisive role he played in fostering rapprochement between people and communities, in defending Christian values, and in his efforts to save Jews during the Holocaust," states the legislative proposal initiated by a group of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) majority parliamentarians.
According to the draft law, cultural, educational, and artistic events will be organized throughout the "Bishop Márton Áron Year" in order to achieve the stated objectives.
"Central and local public administration authorities, as well as public institutions under their subordination or coordination, may allocate funds from their own budgets for the organization and logistical and/or financial support of the events, within the limits of the approved budget allocations. The Romanian Television Society and the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation may produce and broadcast programs dedicated to the 'Bishop Márton Áron Year,' while respecting their autonomy and editorial independence," the amended legislative proposal adopted by the Senate stipulates.
In recognition of his efforts to save Transylvanian Jews and for his courage and human solidarity, in 1999 the State of Israel, through the Yad Vashem Institute, posthumously awarded Márton Áron (1896-1980) the title of "Righteous Among the Nations."
In the explanatory memorandum, the initiators of the bill highlighted the personality and activity of Bishop Márton Áron, "who fought for human dignity against all forms of dictatorship, totalitarianism, and extremism, whether of the right or the left."
The legislative proposal will be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making body in this case.
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