From: Palos Passio
Date: 2012. április 18.
Subject: A magyar pálos katakomba cserkészet
To: Kutasi József Antal <jozsef@kutasi.eu>
Bakk István
A magyar pálos katakomba cserkészet
SCOUTS IN CATACOMBS
After 1945 the Communists dissolved - among other organisations - the
Hungarian Scout Association and its members were forced to join the
state-sponsored ranks of atheistic Pioneers. Many of the dedicated,
Catholic leaders of the scouting movement decided to honour their
scout oath by their continuing commitment to God, country and
neighbours. In the spirit of the scout law they carried on their
common activity secretly by concealing their meetings as young hikers
and nature enthusiasts touched by the romantics of Native American or
ancient Hungarian culture.
Under this cover - heavily influenced by the spirituality of the scout
movement - they continued to promote the ideal of a "Christ-like
humanity".
This kind of "scouting in catacombs" was best organised in Pécs by
underground scout leaders: László Arató and Mátyás Ivasivka. The two
independent groups were united in 1953 under the name "Grotto Camp"
with the spiritual leadership of a Pauline priest, Pál Bolváry, who
had just been released from prison. The "Grotto Camp" consisted of
several boy and girl scout groups who secretly organised meetings,
excursions, catechesis lessons, and camps in the summer. Although
their ac tivity was protected by a strict law of silence, the leaders
were arrested in1961, and Father Bolváry was incarcerated for six
years.
Bakk István
