A Culture of Life From Below

In the Eyes of the Believer of the Catholic Times Weekly,  a pastor gives us his ideas on the Culture Of Life and why it has not been successful.

The Church has long exercised its prophetic mission to transform the culture of death into a culture of life and love. The Bishops' Conference and each parish have formed  committees  to spread the  culture  of life movement in social activities. Declaring that "abortion is  a murderous act and one of the reasons  for the belittling life in our society."  

Bishops have  conducted several  campaigns to abolish some provisions of the anti-life health law, but it has been rejected. Furthermore, reflection on the existing life movement is needed for it has been of little help in preventing the repeal of abortion laws following a recent ruling.

Is this not the  result of relying only on the way the church has approached respect for life and the nobility of life  as coming down from above— an essentialist  approach? The writer wonders  whether the rapidly changing socio-cultural new ideological trends and changing lifestyles have ended up where it's no longer valid in persuading the populace. Therefore, alternatives are urgently needed to overcome the limitations of the existing movement for life.

An alternative to the church's life movement for today's cultural age is the 'life movement from below'. An honorary professor at Seoul National University School of Medicine, is one of the most prominent advocates of this issue in the church.  Desperately appealing to save the fetus from the Catholic Church's perspective, he stressed solidarity and practice from below, a different approach to the existing church bioethics issues. The days when believers easily accepted church teachings are over, arguing that the church desperately needs a way to unite with them so that believers themselves can solve their social situations within church teachings. This makes a lot of sense to most.

The "life movement from below" should be based not only with church leaders or church institutions, but with individuals and groups of believers. It should be solved by helping to change the culture that takes into account the specific situation, mindset and lifestyle that women face. In other words, the church should cooperate to share and practice awareness of the dignity of life in various cultural ways through examples of individuals and the groups living this life. To this end, it is desirable to have programs for discussion, meetings and field experiences that inspire respect for life at the parish level.

It would be good to read and share life-related books in reading groups  at the parish level. One example is the book Beautiful Fragrance published by Daughters of St. Paul in 2009. The book conveys a message of hope, consolation and love that leaves a short but long afterglow, and reflects on how to live a more fulfilling and happy life.

Movies can serve the same purpose. He mentions the movie opening in Korea (2021) Becoming Astrid which explores the social pressures of the era  which show the great changes in society  but  allows for a great opportunity to discuss the  problems in  society today. And the Christian way of dealing with  the issues involved.

The church needs to foster or unite life-oriented civic groups, expand and sustain practical support such as financial support for single mothers, and establish shelters. Rather than shouting "abortion is murder," the focus should be on "saving the fetus" and the healing that needs to follow for those who have died. 

 

In addition, various forms of education should be provided in parishes and  civil society on anti-life situations. Gospel values that are ignored such as internet violence, sexual assault, school violence, child abuse, hatred,  power abuse, which are currently our social problems all need to be examined and eradicated.