In the Catholic Peace Weekly's 'Uncomfortable Words' column the writer gives the reader some thoughts that may not be welcomed by many. The issues that we face do not always have ready made solutions and dialog is required to see the whole picture.
If you think about it, the "It's my fault" movement initiated by Korean Catholics 30 years ago remains in our memory. These words, taken from the "prayer of confession" at the beginning of Mass, gained great sympathy as a movement to restore public trust in the context of ideological, regional, and labor-management conflicts that erupted with democratization in the 1990s.
Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan took the lead in the campaign by attaching a blue "It's my fault" sticker in the rear window of his car, and 400,000 stickers were quickly used up. However, the limits of this program were also clear. It's difficult to eliminate the root cause of social conflict, distrust, inequality, discrimination, and temporary expedients, without discernment, claiming that it was all my fault. In the end, 'It’s my fault' is a memory that lasted like many other slogans we have seen on back windows of cars.
On the night of the Sewol ferry disaster eight years ago, he cried often remembering the tragedy.Probably everyone did. Remembering the bright future those children had and responding with everything was my fault, no matter how hard one beats the chest, does little to value those young lives. It seemed to be the fault of one man and woman who let the world go on like this and lived happily ever after, and more than anything, he lamented our helplessness. It was his fault, but the fault was because he did nothing. It was because the children did not fight against the captain's order to stay still and his own failure to fight against the irresponsible use of money.
The October 29 Itaewon disaster was another incident that called for our repentance and reflection. He sympathized with the words, "Now is the time of mourning and remembrance," and said many prayers for the victims of the tragedy.
It is said that when an unexpected death strikes, people's reactions lead to sadness, denial, and anger. As soon as the initial bitterness subsided, questions like: "Why did it have to happen?" and anger for no reason followed. While he is a member of the older generation, he beat his chest, saying, "It’s my fault," seeing those who should have blamed themselves did so only after a week had passed he could see the reason for the anger in society. It was difficult to find a reason for him to feel responsible, seeing that the words: "Do not use disaster as a tool for political strife" came out first at a time when the person in charge should have had severe self-reproach.
When he heard the words, about "dividing public opinion" and "social conflict" along with "our own responsibility," in a sermon at Mass, he didn't feel the difference from those who talked about "political strife." The people who were most satisfied after hearing these words were probably the president and his wife who attended the Mass. The truth is, we won't have to feel responsible.
Ordinary people cannot be responsible for everything in the world, and we have entrusted our power to the government to take this responsibility instead. However, when power always emphasizes national security or people's safety, when the benefits that can be obtained are futile, it quickly changes direction and uses its own malfunctions as energy for operation. They are trying to gather support once again by driving those who want truth and justice into the forces of political strife and division.
He doesn't want to deny the church's teaching on what is meant by— 'It's my fault'. But truth and justice are as stern teachings of Christ as the spirit of peace. He also said: the truth sets us free. True peace will be possible only on the basis of truth and justice. He is concerned that Catholicism has become a religion looking for easy solutions, fearing conflict and division turning without discernment towards the conservative position. Along with the words: "My peace I give you, and truth will make you free", Jesus did say—"I have come to bring division."
