In the past two decades decisions have been made on the future of 8,000 church-owned properties which were nationalised in 1948. Parliament passed an act on settling ownership status of former church properties in 1991.

Human Resources Minister Zoltán Balog also called it a success story.

Church affairs state secretary László Szászfalvi said that during the term of the first Orbán cabinet Ft 4 billion was laid aside for supporting reconstruction projects, and the sum ran out by 2010. The Orbán cabinet has laid aside an additional Ft 1.35 billion for last year and again this year for this purpose.

The one-time church properties include Matthias church in Buda, the St. Stephen basilica, the Eszterházy Károly Teacher Training College in Eger and the Calvinist Teacher Training College in Debrecen.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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