Hungary’s New Sunday Closing Law

KTFnews.com - Hal Mayer

Hungary recently passed a new Sunday closing law that will go into effect March 15, 2015. The new law requires large stores of over 200 square meters to remain closed on Sundays while leaving small family owned businesses free to trade. Exceptions to the new law include airports, tourist areas, train stations, hospitals, pharmacies, tobacconists, farmer’s markets, bakeries and petrol stations. There are also restrictions on trading hours.

The change in the law was proposed by the Christian Democrats, a largely Roman Catholic political group. Prime Minister Viktor Orban supported the new ‘Sabbath law’ which “recognizes Sunday as a Christian day of rest…

Germany and Austria have similar restrictions in place, but critics point to the economic impact involved and also the potential loss of jobs. But it appears that no one in the media noted that this new law would lay the foundation for stricter Sunday laws including Sunday worship laws eventually. Recognizing or enforcing one religion or one version of Christianity and its worship day by law is a dangerous precedent that will make it much easier to enforce Sunday worship laws and anti-Sabbath laws later. The Roman Catholic Church urges nations to recognize her alternative day of rest in various ways. It should be no surprise that the Christian Democrats in ultra-conservative Hungary have initiated this move.

“All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him…” Revelation 13:8