Gergő Bese
Gergő Péter Bese (born 23 July 1983 in Budapest)[1] is a prominent Hungarian Roman Catholic priest and pro-Fidesz social influencer.[2] He was the parish priest of Dunavecse until his dismissal on September 6, 2024 following a sex scandal.[1][3]
He actively participated in the public religious life and community organization of the governments of Viktor Orbán.[4][5] and was one of the most widely presented and broadcast church figures in the government-affiliated media and press organizations. He consecrated state offices, and received state funding for his pro-family organizations.[6] He was an outspoken critic of homosexuality, consistently opposing the efforts to protect the interests of the LGBTQ community in his public statements.[7]
His scandal erupted in the fall of 2024, during which it was revealed that he regularly had intimate relationships with other men, and also attended gay sex parties.[7] Archbishop Balázs Bábel suspended him, and the Orbán government and its media outlets removed materials related to him.[8][9]
References
- ^ a b "Bese Gergő Péter atya bemutatkozása - Pannonhalmi Gyümölcsoltó Boldogasszony Plébánia" [Introduction of Father Gergő Péter Bese - Annunciaton of Our Lady Parish Church at Pannonhalma]. plebania.bences.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ Faludy, Alexander (5 December 2024). "Hungarian bishops acknowledge 'disappointment' at mounting scandal". The Tablet. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ "Kicsoda a NER-sztárpap, aki nemrég még a melegházassággal kötötte össze a morális lecsúszást?" [Who is the NER star priest who recently linked moral decline to gay marriage?]. telex (in Hungarian). 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ ""Szájer-ügy" a NER sztárpapja körül – az egyház kemény lépésre készül | Válasz Online" ["Szajer case" surrounding the star priest of the NER - the church is preparing for a tough step] (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ "Féltékenység vezethetett a Bese-ügy kirobbanásához" [Jealousy may have led to the outbreak of the Bese affair]. telex (in Hungarian). 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ "Star priest who consecrated Orbán's office and Megafon may have attended gay parties, Catholic Church investigating". telex. 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b Chastand, Jean-Baptiste (2024-09-23). "In Hungary, the hypocrisy of a homophobic priest is exposed". Le Monde. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ ""Vétettem az egyházzal szemben" - közleményt küldött a 777 részére Bese Gergő" [“I’ve been against the Church” – Gergő Bese sent a statement to 777]. 777 (in Hungarian). 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ István, Pataki (2024-09-06). "Már Orbán Viktor is lépett a melegpornós botrányba keveredett plébános ügyében" [Viktor Orbán has already taken action in the case of the parish priest involved in the gay scandal]. index.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2025-04-27.