Misconceptions on the Place of the Social Gospel

After looking over Church statistics for 2010, a university professor and vice director of a Catholic research center, in an interview with the Catholic Times, had some interesting things to say about the Church in Korea.

He gives credit for the growth of the Church to the competition with Protestantism and Buddhism rather than to any internal reasons. He feels that until the image these two religions have in society changes, Catholicism will continue to do well, with a membership of 6 million possible in the near future. However, he believes that an increase in numbers without an accompanying growth in the depth of one's faith life will create serious problems.

Currently, the situation is not promising: the numbers attending Mass is at a standstill, the majority of our Christians are older and their activity in the Church is less, the semi-tepid  number 50 percent of our membership, and there is not enough concern for the aged. These problems have been around for almost 30 years and little has improved over the years. To have maturer Christians, the professor said, the methods of evangelization have to change.

A statistic that is especially disturbing is the lack of young people coming into the Church, while those in their 50s and 70s have seen an increase. The professor sees this as a serious problem for the future.

The statistics for the last ten years show that the number of women entering religious life has decreased, even though the number of single women has increased. A similar decrease will also be seen in the number of men entering religious life, and diocesan seminaries in the future. He feels that the present lack of vocations for the religious life results from the Church not being concerned enough to publicize the life sufficiently and see its  importance in the life of the Church.

He also blames parents and their lack of a mature faith life for the drop in the number of children coming to religious instructions. To change this situation will require, he says, a stronger evangelization of those entering the Church.

To the question, what should  the Church do to change the trend? It will require, he answers, that the Church take a greater interest in the social concerns of society.  He believes that  Cardinal Kim and  Fr. John Lee Tae-suk have done a great deal to  give the Catholic Church its currently favorable image. But the professor notes that in the Church today, we see the beginning of a polarization we did not have in the past; this is disconcerting to many who have looked upon the Church with favor. The professor feels that the problem comes from a lack of understanding of the Social Gospel, and a tendency to see religion solely as an individual relationship with God. To correct this misconception, he would advocate for a Church-wide strategy to  show the importance of the Social Gospel in the lives of all Christians.

Seeing the World with a Christ-like Sensitivity

The word 'sensitivity' is used, perhaps more than most words, in a variety of ways and contexts. Its many meanings include: responsive, keen, overflowing, sympathetic, compassionate, and, though often used to describe persons, can also characterize a trend or flow in society, as in a "popular sensitivity"  or a "human rights sensitivity."  Such were the thoughts of a bishop writing in his weekly column on religion and economics in  the Catholic Times. The word is sometimes used to indicate a new understanding of some aspect of life. In popular language, a person who has this sensitivity is seen in a better light than one who doesn't. 

Keeping this in mind, it is natural that followers of Christ should have a sensitivity to his words and way of life. Jesus came into the world by taking on our flesh and a human sensitivity to all of us in the love he has shown us. When we are close to Jesus and see the world with his eyes, with his way of thinking and acting, we will take upon ourselves his sensitivity.

With the globalization of the world, and its potential to make us more sensitive to the difficulties  of others, we are seeing differences not only in politics but also in cultural and economic matters. The way we live is rapidly being changed by our one-world-village sensitivity. We can't go back to the old ways, the bishop says, but must now find ways to deal with the new society we are making.  In the years ahead this will continue to impact our Korean society, and the bishop wants us to understand that it will be primarily a world governed by economic needs that will affect us the most. The Church can't only be interested in spiritual and religious matters but all that pertains to life. When we do, we will see more clearly, he says, the difficulties of those who are not benefiting from an increasingly globalized world, the marginalized and generally forgotten many who struggle to get by.
                                                                                                                          The Church has commented on this situation repeatedly. The most serious problems are in the countries of Asia and Africa that are experiencing the detrimental side effects of the direction the world has taken. Those of us who have the sensitivity of a  follower of Christ should find it easy to understand and to sympathize with the suffering of those who are not benefiting from this new world order.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Leisure Becomes Work and Work Leisure

This is the time of the year for vacations. Vacations are sometimes seen as interruptions in a busy schedule and grudgingly taken in order to return to work refreshed. And sometimes vacations are seen as an eagerly awaited, joyful reward for having worked. To be busy is often considered a sign of competence and ambition, the key to success. The Desk Columnist of the Catholic Times provides us with another look at vacations.

Is it a fact, he asks, that when we are busy we are more likely to have success and happiness? On the contrary, our columnists says, "When we realize that leisure time brings into our life success and happiness, we arrive at a new level of understanding work and leisure. Work then feels like leisure  and leisure like work."

He divides  vacations into three types. The first type describes a person who looks forward to resting from his workload, getting rid of the the burden of his work and desiring the vacation to recoup his strength--rest from work is what is needed.
The  second type describes a person who actively enjoys the leisure. Rest is seen as creative, bringing interest and satisfaction into life, as if  existence itself were waiting for this moment of joy.

The third type accepts the vacation without giving it much thought, as an appropriate break in the work routine.

The columnist poses a question for his readers to ponder: What type are we?

Our leisure time should allow us to discover the joy and beauty of life. In our restful moments we should be able to see, he says, how joyful, how creative, how full of love life is, and, with gratitude, experience these  blessings in our life.

For Christians what we are leaving  behind when going on vacation is not as important as where we are going while on vacation.  And that should be, says our columnist, back to the God who made us. Our tired bodies and minds are searching for the rest that comes by returning quietly and deeply to God. We can be  sidetracked by a culture that wants to keep us busy, pressed for time even during vacations.  What is needed, he says, is more of the second type of vacation: the leisure time that finds the peace and rest in God that will continue even after returning to the workplace.                                                                                                          

Surprised by a Gift

A poet writes about her moving to the country and the gift she received in the process. A number of these returning-to-the-soil articles have appeared in the Catholic Kyeongyang magazine lately, demonstrating a growing nostalgia for things of the earth and for its basic life-nurturing qualities. Our poet moved to the country to tend wildflowers and to plant and care for an herb garden which will supply her with teas throughout the year, and to have more time for quiet reflection.

She made the move with some apprehension, not quite sure whether it was an act of bravery or foolishness. She did not dislike city life, nor was she enamored philosophically with life in the country and living close to nature. Her reason for the move: her life was just too fast. Thoughtlessly accepting life was suffocating, she said, and she wanted a change.

Her two boys were now adults and did not need her care anymore. Feeling free to leave behind family responsibilities and the city for a life close to nature, she was guided by the words of St. Matthew that the lilies of the field do not work or spin and yet even Solomon in all his splendor was not arrayed like one of them.

"Mother, today I have begun the course in the catechumenate to be baptized. I will be looking forward to your help." This was the first telephone call she received last year.  She never had a daughter and the caller, a friend of her second son, was to grow closer to her than her own son. In the beginning, she had misgivings on the kind of girl her son would meet, for all he knew from the time he was in grammar school was sports, and now he was in a soccer training camp. But from her first meeting with the girl, at her home in the country, all her fears disappeared.

Since the son was living in a dormitory, when  he had some time off, the girl would come down from the city, and both would meet at his mother's house. The mother  had arranged with the girl's family to have her stay with her when her son could leave camp and be with them in the country.

The girl was baptized last year on the Feast of the Assumption, and now goes to the country to help the mother during weekends; this was the gift the mother feels she has been given. They both work in the garden and go to Mass together on Sundays. The mother wonders now if  returning this gift back to God is not her task along with the gardening. Whether it is the life of living close to nature or the life of raising a family, she has no doubts that God looks upon both with favor.

Freedom of the Press and Democracy

A journalist writing in the premier Catholic magazine recalls a book of only 30 pages that has already sold in France nearly 2 million copies. With the publication of the book, Time for Outrage  (Indignez Vous), its message is spreading to other parts of Europe.

The French author, 94 years old and a resistance fighter during the Second World  War, tells the young, "Just look around, and you will see what is not to be endured. The worst kind of attitude is indifference, 'What can I do? I have my work to do,'" you say. "With that kind of thinking the  strength that comes with outrage is lost--one of the qualities that makes us human--and we miss the opportunity to bring about change."

The first object of our anger, he says, should be the gulf that separates the rich from the poor. The second object of our anger should be the present threat to welfare programs for the powerless in society, and concerns in  maintaining an independent press among other issues--all of which have to be seen if we are to make judgements and move into action.

The author of the book participated in drawing up the  Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. When we are angry at the violations of  human rights wherever they occur, he believes we will also attain rights and freedoms for ourselves. And his recommendation to cease from violence is to have non-violent, peaceful demonstrations.

The journalist briefly reviews the struggles for change in Korea, especially the recent candle-light processions of college student asking  for an  unconditional decrease in college tuition. They were joined by workers, parents, and by high school  students. He remembers his own struggle for a free press 37 years ago when the journalists of his own paper confronted the government of  Park Chung-hee. When the journalists issued their call for a free press, all the advertising disappeared. In the place of the advertising, the blank spaces were filled with the angry words of the readers, offering consolation and encouragement to the protesters, and also donations.

This could have continued but the shareholders of the paper and radio station decided against the protesters and fired 134 employees of the paper,  including journalists, producers, and announcers.  Our journalist was one of those fired. The advertising income returned, the number of  pages of the paper increased  but the freedom of the press died.

The freedom of the press, he concludes, is the foundation of a true democracy--freedom from  power, moneyed interests, and the influence of  big business.  He ends with the words of Isaiah (10:1-4): "Woe to those who enact unjust statues and who write oppressive decrees, depriving the needy of judgement and robbing my people's poor of their rights...."

New Stem Cell Therapy in Korea

				The press in Korea recently reported on the first stem cell therapy to receive the approval of the Korean Food and Drug Administration for commercial use. The therapy uses somatic stem cells extracted from the patient's own body to treat people with damaged heart conditions. The medication is injected directly into the heart through a coronary artery. The pharmaceutical company says that not all heart disease patients are eligible for the treatment but only those who have had angioplasty surgery will benefit from the treatment. It is reported that the treatment will take about four weeks. The company has conducted clinical trials since 2005 at major general hospitals around the country, while investing about $28 million on research and development  Treatment will cost about $10,000, the company says. The editorial in the Catholic Times describes this new cell therapy as the first of its kind in the world, giving hope to many. The use of adult stem cells--not the use of embryonic stem cells--is something that can be celebrated. There is nothing morally questionable with this medical procedure. The problem, the editorial states, was the way the news was handled by the press, focusing on the great financial windfall that is sure to accrue to the pharmaceutical company, and not focusing on questions concerning the safety of the procedure. Capitalism is based, as we know, on the profit motive. But when life and death issues become entangled with the profit motive, often controlling  medical practice decisions, the editorial expressed reservations. Life, it said, should not be subordinated to other values. Clinical tests to  rule out problems with the procedure have not been adequately completed. And efforts to bring it to the marketplace quickly is no reason to jeopardize life. When we are dealing with life, caution should be our principal concern. This is only the beginning for stem cell research. The therapies that will follow should always take into consideration the protection of life while companies pursue legitimate financial profit. Needless to say, the stock of the pharmaceutical company that introduced this breakthrough procedure did go up after the report in the press.

The Marys and Marthas of the World

In Korea, as in every other country, we have differences of opinion. We have the left, right and middle, words that have taken on meanings that are not difficult to understand. And yet we know that on any issue one can be considered conservative and on other issues, liberal or somewhere in the middle. And with time even these ideological positions can change. 

Our acceptance of Christianity can also have different perspectives. It can be accepted with a preference either for the inner life or the life in society-- the Martha and Mary difference, activists and contemplatives.  Most would understand maturity  as a mix of both,  promoting  a  harmony between the supposed opposites enabling  one to function humanly. But it is here that we  have much discussion, pitting one against the other by the words we choose to use.

This past month the Catholic Journalist Club met for the 11th Catholic Forum,  where participants expressed their views on the role of leadership in the different  areas of Korean life. One of the presenters considered the Church to be too much turned-in on itself, believing the existence of the Church is what is all important. He said that this long-held traditional idea has to be discarded.  Many clerics are too concerned with the internal life of the Church, with its structure and liturgy, than they are with humanity.  The issue of human rights is considered important but, according to the speaker, some continue to maintain the rights of the Church in opposition to human rights.  Shouldn't this interest, he asks, also be the aim of the Church as it is in society?

This issue was made very clear by the speaker. This was the way the Church appeared to him, and yet the Church is not here on earth for itself but for the world. That is rather basic, for the Church is Christ's mystical body. Christ's example is normative to all Christians.  The goal should  be the same for all, but the means taken could be different. Some are action-orientated while others wait for the movement of grace to attain the goal.

It is regrettable that we see the issue in black and white terms--one against the other-- instead of working together in a partnership of gifts to achieve the same goal which both acknowledge. The present Pope, as Cardinal, expressed this goal as teaching the art of living-- the road to happiness--which continues even after death. That not all of  humanity is  living  with the dignity that should be theirs is sad. All of us should see this as our  responsibility to  improve conditions. This is expressed in terms of love of  neighbor. Though this virtue does not immediately energize us for the work here and now, all Christians should have it as the default position in life, and give it practical significance.