Korean Mothers and Fathers Day 2009

It was May 8, 2009, Aw-baw-ee nal our Mothers and Fathers Day in Korea. Emotions run high on this day for Koreans. I was invited by my community of H.D. (lepers) villagers as the elder to dinner. Because there were many joining in, a local buffet was chosen-reasonable price but an excellent variety of food. As we feasted on all kinds of fish, meat, vegetables, fruit mostly Korean delicacies, but even some western cuisine- I had to stop- take a deep breath in joy and gratitude.

My thoughts went back to 50 years ago when I first came to Busan Korea. The refugees from the North Korea were everywhere. Not only did we have little food, clothing, medicine but even a place to sleep. This was the fallout of the terrible Korean fratricidal War, 1950-53. But today was very different. No worries or privations, thoughts about tomorrow, all had come to enjoy! All ate, were filled and there was much left over.

It has always surprised me how little time it takes to go from an underdeveloped country to a developed one. Korea has made this transition being now the 13 to 15 largest economy in the World. What would the Korea of the North and South be if united? It is an interesting thought to entertain and hopefully the North on its better days does have the thought flit through their minds.

The Problems Faced by the Early Christians

In reviewing the life of Choe Yang Eop (Thomas) the second Korean priest, in the Catholic Encyclopedia, I noticed his very wise words on the condition of the Church at that time.

He considered the yangban system of the society the reason for most of the problems in Society and in the Church. Yangbans were the upper classes of the Korean society. This division was seen even in the Church and Fr. Choe found this to be dividing the community. It was more of the discrimination that we are all too familiar with. This policy was followed by the government in appointing people to service. This was the culture of the times and what the culture expected, the Church was not confident enough in its Christianity to refuse to follow. He considered this an infringement of the rights of many of the citizens.

The second point he made was that missionaries who come to Korea should be familiar with the
situation in Korea and the customs. I was surprised that he did not mention learning the language well. He worked very close with the missionaries and knew the situation very well listening to the Catholic Korean Christians who would be dealing with the foreigner missionaries on a daily basis. When they had one of their own to talk to they would mention the difficulties with the missionaries.

In my own experience you notice that many who know the language well at times fail to have a way with people and those who do not know the language, many times, are accepted and are much more at home with the Christians. It is another proof that the non verbal is more important than the verbal.

The last point he made was that France should work diplomatically with Korea to get the Korean government to acknowledge freedom of religion. This was a problem that he was faced with every day of his life, the fear of death or imprisonment.

He was a very wise priest and one who had a great deal to say to us, living many years after his death.

The Bishops on Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The Catholic Church in Korea as in the rest of the world is doing battle with the notion that it is perfectly legitimate to experiment with embryonic cells for the benefit of the sick. The prevailing opinion is one that says: the end justifies the means. The Catholic bishops of the United States have said in their statement on this issue:"Harvesting embryonic stem cells is a “gravely immoral” and “absolutely unacceptable” act that involves the deliberate killing of innocent human beings "... “Because life is our first and most basic gift from an infinitely loving God, it deserves our utmost respect and protection.” The bishops rejected research proponents’ argument that any harm done in embryonic stem cell research is outweighed by the potential benefits, saying the idea that a good end can justify direct killing “has been the source of much evil in our world.”

The Korean Bishops have long been making the same statements but now that the government has given the qualified okay to the experimentation the bishops have given response to the latest decision of the National Bioethics Committee with the statement of Bishop Chang reported below as taken from their newsletter:

The Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, President of the Committee for Bioethics of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK), issued a message on April 29, 2009, protesting the decision of the National Bioethics Committee to give a qualified consent to the stem cell research on the somatic cloned human embryo, requested by the researchers of CHA General Hospital in Seoul.

In his message, Bishop Chang said, "The Committee cannot but deplore the fact that a national institution leads the way in the destruction of life. There is shown even contempt for life which will be brought about by such a research aiming for the development of embryonic stem cell production. This also includes the production of stem cells from cloned human embryo, on the excuse that it will help in the treatment for incurable diseases. The newly approved stem cell research on the somatic cloned human embryo is an act of ruthless violence destroying human life in the name of science." (worked the above into shorter sentences )

And Bishop Chang stressed, "The Catholic Church never turns her face away from the patients who are suffering from the incurable disease, even if she opposes the research on the somatic cloned human embryo. More than any other organization, the Catholic Church has worked and will work for the terminally-ill patients with other concerned parties."

In conclusion, Bishop Chang said, "The Catholic Church supports ... the adult stem cell research and the stem cell research... of skin cells. Such researches can be rewarded with good results without the destruction of human life, in defiance of nature. … Bio-technology should strive for the true development of human beings, standing by life, recognizing its precious vocation to serve the integral life."

Three years ago, the government banned all stem cell researches on the somatic cloned embryo, as the scandal of Dr. Hwang Woo-seok resulted in a great social confusion. At that time, Dr. Hwang manipulated the results of the embryonic stem cell research to entice the government subsidy. His misbehavior aroused so much public rage that the government had to ban all researches related to the stem cell research in general.

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Wise Business Practices?

Johanna Lee is a usually a thrifty lady when it comes to shopping. As a member our H.D. (Leper) community, she has had to watch where her meager food money has been spent- usually on basics like rice, simple vegetables and inexpensive fish-because she has had to feed a family of five over the years.

This morning, May 8th, a new "LOTTE SUPPER" market opened in her Jang Rim neighborhood.It must be explained for those unfamiliar with the Korean Family or choebal system. Like the ultra-rich families in Korea, the Lotte Family group owns much real estate, supermarkets, and subsidiary businesses in Korea. In a word the LOTTE CEO would be much more powerful and influential than even the President of Korea, that's the story of money people world wide!

Loudspeakers blasted out, "Come to the new Lotte Super- today, everything is cheap, only half price- So Come"! Johanna and many of her friends almost frenzy-like go and spend all of their precious household money on things really not needed. When she cools down she realizes she has been a willing victim of tricky business practices!

We have all been freely manipulated by others using our greed for gain. Here in Korea as in the States the large chain stores have put many of the smaller stores out of business. This has been in the short term a blessing for the consumer but not always good for society. The big money goes to a small number of individuals, compared to many small businesses putting the big money in the hands of many more individuals. There are many very simple business practices that are used frequently and that help the rich grow richer and the poor poorer. This may be a sign of efficiency, intelligence and just good business practices but is it for the common good?

Labor Problems In Catholic Hospitals

For some time there has been a labor dispute in Incheon’s Bu Pyeong St.Mary’s Catholic Hospital between the labor union and the hospital that the diocese administers. The union feels that the administration is trying to get rid of the union. When the diocese took over the hospital from an order of sisters there were 240 in the union it went down to 41. There has been a freeze on the pay for three years and little communication between the hospital and union.

The hospital wants to keep the operational cost down for the hospital is in debt and the building is old so they are planning to build a 15 story hospital. The priest in the diocese who is in charge of the labor ministry feels there should be more dialogue between the administration and the union. The bishop has made it very clear in his talk for labor day that the Church is very strong on the rights of the laborers to work together to achieve their goal. Yet both sides see the problem in different ways.

You see this not infrequently. Not knowing all the facts it is difficult to take a position for all the parties have something going for them. Dialogue is important and probably some mediation would be a blessing.

The priest in charge of the diocese's labor ministry, said he believed the union had faced pressure from the hospital: "I believe that the union has been under pressure from the hospital. Losing so many union members in such a short period proves that," he said. The bishop reconfirmed the Church's recognition of labor unions’ role in his labor day message. " But the Church knows it only from the head and not the heart. That embarrasses me." he lamented. He has asked the head of the hospital to work with the union.

The Church in Korea has faced protests on labor issues at another hospital it runs. Last December, about 100 people attended a Mass outside Seoul archdiocese-run Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital in support of part-time workers whose contracts with the hospital were not renewed.

The hospital wants to run an efficient hospital to help the people in Incheon with the best medical services that can be had. This is not an easy job there is a great deal of competition and to improve the facilities it takes money. The union wants to make the life of their members better adapted to the conditions of our society. This brings about conflict. It should be obvious that the when the Church does get involved with schools and hospitals they have to run them according to the capitalistic principles of our society and that is a big danger for the Church. For many times they lose the very meaning of why they were established.

We have the law of love which when used in this context would bring a smile to the faces of many and yet the church is not in this work for profit which is the dilemma. Certainly the Church should be an example of what it means to be partners for a common goal but this requires a great deal of dialogue and the necessary disposition on the part of both parties.

Help for Internet Addiction

The Borame Youth Center administered by the Seoul Archdiocese has been entrusted by the Seoul City with a project for therapy and prevention of addiction of youth to the internet. The Center will be called, I WILL center. It will be staffed with 9 qualified persons. The plan is to construct a network that will take care of all aspects of the treatment and prevention of addiction of this type. Apparently it is know that this problem is not one that goes away on its own.

I have for many years felt that the internet was the greatest discovery in my life time. It has the good and the bad but it has the potential for much good if used correctly. I compare it to the printing press. It could be a help in making us all the wiser but the use of the internet can also have many handicaps. There are physical problems that come with excessive use. You have internet sexual addiction, gaming compulsion, indiscriminate information , relationship addiction, and compulsions to use the internet. The very use of the blog that I am using can be an addiction but it can also be a service.

There is an old scholastic aphorism: Quidquid recipitur ad modum recipientis recipitur. (What ever is received is received in the mode of the one receiving.) So having a mature set of values and a basic grounding in the old fashion virtues is a prerequisite for the healthy use of the internet, or for anything.

The Cardinal at the dedication of the center prayed that the light shown on this problem will continue to grow and be a help to our young people.

A Korean Mother's Love

I received the book “Herb Gathering Grandmother’s Single Eyed Love” in the mail recently from a priest in the diocese. I have no way of judging if that is a good translation of 나물 할머니의 외눈박이 사랑, a book of meditations on a mother’s love. On Parents Day May 8 it is a good time to reflect on a mother’s love.

The priest is one who has had many big positions in the diocese. He was the rector of the seminary and the head of the marriage tribunal and now a pastor of a big city parish. His mother died two years ago at the age of 92 and this book is his meditative reflections on the past 40 years of his mother's life. He has written many books but this is his first one with a strong emotional content. The reason for the title is that his mother when he was rector of the seminary would in the spring gather herbs from the nearby hills and acorns in the fall to make acorn jelly to give to the seminarians. She was called 'herb gathering grandmother' by the seminarians.

He writes: “I learned to pray in my mother’s womb, I learned about love at her knees, at her breast I received my Faith. When there were difficulties she would pray before the cross. That prayer has been the support of my life. My mother has been my breath, my love, and my respected teacher.”

The priest was very honest in the portrayal of the difficulties of his mother and one of them was a husband who was not always there when she needed him. She had to feed the family with her selling different commodities, and take care of her 6 children. He has seen the problems that married couples have had and hopes that his transparency in some way will help those families.

On Parent’s Day it is a good time to reflect on our parents love and in this case the sacrifice and service of the Korean Mothers.