Justice Versus Ideological Bias

The Catholic Times gives the readers some pros and cons  on the National Catholic Priests' Association for the Realization of Justice  which has been  holding Prayer Meetings for the restoration  of democracy and peace in society.

When it is judged there is political or social confusion or a serious problem in society, intellectuals, such as professors and religious figures gather at a designated place at the same time to express concern about the current issues and urge a solutions.

 

Members of the  religious world continue to bring news to society of the state of affairs one after another. The National Catholic Priests' Association for the Realization of Justice is offering weekly Masses.

  

The priests’ association explained the reason for the prayer meetings in a statement released recently: "I pray to you at the time of desperation." The priests' association pointed recent government proposals with which they didn't agree that they thought violated the Constitution. 

 

Depending on the location, hundreds to 2,000 people participate in the priests' prayer meetings. However, the eyes of the believers who look at the prayer meetings are largely divided into two categories. We have those who see priests reading the signs of the times and speaking out ‘bitterly’ about the current situation, and the negative position that the priesthood, which shows a biased political ideology, and see the clergy involved in politics. 

 

A believer in Inchon, who requested anonymity, said: "Rather than alleviating the pain of farmers and workers, the current regime intimidates the people by rejecting the Grain Law and announcing the suppression of protests against the government by force, and in particular, threatens the country’s existence with faulty diplomacy. The priests are properly rebuking the current regime with the eyes of the gospel and that the government should listen to the voice of the priests."

 

However, a priest from another diocese said: "The priests did not say a word about the government's incompetence or the situation that took place during the the past administration, but only exposes the situation of the present government"  He also pointed out:  "Clergy should participate in politics as members of society, but in order to 'realize justice', the priests must first be righteous."

 There is also an opinion that the terms "prosecutor’s dictatorship" and “regime resignation" used by the priests were objectionable. A lay leader in Seoul said: "It is understandable that the priests congregate to offer a Mass for the state of affairs and point out the government's realities, but they need to choose  language that the believers can relate to."