In 2015 the world news reported that in the last 25 years, globalization, a strong violent wind has blown on the global village. In every facet of the village, we see an embarrassing polarization which needs to be adjusted. Eighty of the richest individuals possess as much as half of the world's population.
An article in the Catholic Times introduces us to the need to bring about a change in the world. This is not only a difference in material goods but with money you have an entrance into all the benefits and privileges of society. These are also passed on to the future generation in an even stronger way.
Income influences marriages, the lower the income the later the marriage, and fewer children. Obesity is seen more in the poorer; the rich live longer. Income will determine the education level of our citizens and give rise to many problems in society.
The polarization of the citizenry is the temporary worker issue. Employment insecurity, lower wages, inhuman treatment, and discrimination, goes to forming the lower strata of society becoming its scapegoats.
Pope Francis in his encyclicals, exhortations, talks has stressed this concern for the poor and asks that we hear their cries.
"Today in many places we hear a call for greater security. But until exclusion and inequality in society and between peoples are reversed, it will be impossible to eliminate violence. The poor and the poorer peoples are accused of violence, yet without equal opportunities, the different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode. When a society – whether local, national or global – is willing to leave a part of itself on the fringes, no political programs or resources spent on law enforcement or surveillance systems can indefinitely guarantee tranquility." (Joy of the Gospel #58).
Pope Francis makes clear that the unfairness in society is a reason for some of the violence we see in society. "Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality. Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape" (Joy of the Gospel# 53).
The structures of society especially the economic system from the very beginning the inequality was ready to foster violence. Unbridled capitalism, consumerism,and the throwaway culture make the poor poorer, and miserable. The pope's sharp words in criticism of mammonism is a lament in seeing the poor driven from the mainstream of society and to an inhumane way of living.
Pope Francis and our recent popes have presented us with the same message same from the beginning: “Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs.”
What frightens us the most? A medical school professor, writing in the View from the Ark of the Catholic Times answers: death. A fact common across all of the categories of biological life. There are millions of different species active in the competition for life. However, the human species is the only one that finds life at times more frightening than death. Pain, both physical and mental, makes life no longer worth living and we have suicides.
Korea leads the world in the number of suicides. The government is concerned and is working on possible solutions. The National Bioethics Committee has published a constitution on the dignity of life. Why is Korea the world leader in the number of suicides?
Many scholars mention the challenges that come with economics bringing great stress to many. Whenever we have problems with foreign exchange, credit card problems, and world economic uncertainty we see a rise in the number of suicides around the world: not unique to Korea. However, in the past when the foreign exchange problems subsided we saw a decrease of 30% in the number of suicides in other countries but in Korea, they continued to rise, especially among the elderly and the young.
The pain that comes with economics is a factor. However, there are many other nations that have had to deal with the problems that Korea has experienced. Korea has had many difficulties to overcome in its past and has done an admirable job of surviving. Why is Korea so prone to giving up on life?
Victor Frankl a psychiatrist who while in the concentration camp learned a great deal about life. After freedom, in his books, he stresses that his incarceration enabled him to see life more in depth and finding meaning in life allows one to overcome all difficulties.
With the economic growth in the country, we have become colder and hardhearted, lost our leisure and fail to see the weak in society. A Korean psychiatrist saw the problem originating with the 36 years under Japanese rule which gave birth to a mass neurosis. Koreans lost their collective self-esteem: (instead of finding their worth in themselves they search for it outside of themselves). This was the results of the trauma of colonialism. Consequently, a person's own standards are not important, appearances are everything. It is better to die than live with embarrassment.
We search for superlatives, fame, and ostentation; failing to see those who are alienated in society and at the same time see ourselves as good-for-nothing and not able to accept ourselves as we are. This is another division we have in ourselves and the pain that comes with it, we pass off to our children and others.
The professor finishes the article with the hope that we will come to an understanding of ourselves and overcome the shame of being the suicide leader of the world.
The Anti-Corruption and Bribery Prohibition Act also called the Kim
Young-ran
Act went into effect on Sept. 28, and will bring great changes to
the culture. A religious sister writing in the Catholic Times introduces
the law to the readers and what we can expect.
Kim
Young-ran, the former chairwoman of the Anti-Corruption Civil Rights
Commission started working on the eradication of corruption in Korea
from 2002 and proposed a law in 2011 which after much conflict, five
years later finally is the law of the land.
The
object of the law is the correct understanding of conscience in
society. This applies to all public servants: government officials,
judges, prosecutors, teacher, police, journalists... Any solicitations
or taking of bribes in return for favors are banned.
The
writer expresses her belief that the tacit understanding that was part
of the citizens' consciousness has now been made clear with this law,
a big step. Consequently, the success or failure of the results will
rest with the citizens.
The Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development, a club of the world’s most developed
economies, in 2015 reported that Korea was 27th out of 34 members in
its sensitivity to corruption. Denmark had the highest rating for
sensitivity. The sister hopes with water on top becoming clean the
water below will also become clean.
Sister mentions how she has already heard the many expedients that are being planned to get around the law. Restaurants, and the giving of presents and entertainment has helped to prosper many in society, also the live stock industry will face serious
problems is a worry of many. Money as long as it circulates is good:
'If one wants to go to Seoul, it matters little how one gets
there', is a prevalent way of thinking.
Now is the time
to begin gathering in the bubbles that are afloat and to purify the muddy water
in the network and replace it with clean running water. The prosperity
of the country that is tied to blood relationships, friends, and schools has to give way.
We have had many scandals
in recent years that have depressed many in society and many are
looking for solutions to the problems. We have a lack of material resources but a plentiful number of qualified citizens that we need to utilize. That will allow us to live in peace and be freed
from the tiredness that infects society.
Over 50 % of
the society are either Christian or Buddhists which means we can make a difference in society. Christians are the
largest number in society; we have a lot to be sorry for and a need to ask for
forgiveness, and hope to be tools in the hands of God.
Both Catholic papers and the Kyeonyang magazine remembering Oct. 1st, the
International Day of the Elderly, had front page space on the issue and the
magazine had a series of articles on the situation in Korea. The aging
of Korea is one of the fastest in the world and consequently little time for preparation. Spirituality for
the elderly needs to be emphasized. In Korea we have help with the
phrases used often in society: 'well living' and 'well dying'.
In a
recent seminar on the situation of aging, faith and spirituality a
bishop mentioned the need to prepare the elderly to live fulfilled lives and know how to prepare for death. In Society and within the Church there has been a
movement for 'Group Homes' for the Elderly.
By 2017 the
number of elderly will be over seven million which will be 14% of the
population. In 2025 it is estimated we will have over 10 million. In
2000 those living alone were about 540 thousand which was 3.7 % of the
total families. In 2010 this reached one million. In 2013 this rose
again to 1 million 250 thousand which is 7% of the total number
of families. 20% of the total number of the elderly
are estimated to be living alone.
There are no systematic programs in
place to take care of the problems of the sick, and those dying alone. We have
few statistics on what is happening. According to a report in 2014 we
have 55. 5 suicides for every 100,000 of the population, the highest in the world. As the aging population increases, problems increase,
one of the articles mentioned the need for Group Homes. These homes
provide the elderly with the care they need and living in an environment
that is comfortable and personal similar to their own
home.
The first Group Home was introduced into
Korea in 1995, called a home for the aged. According to the Department of Welfare, places that can be called Group Homes in 2015
numbered 131, a decrease from the 142 from the previous year, a sadness which the writer laments. They take care of about 1000 seniors.
One of the articles
by a scholar on problems of the aged laments that many of the elders
have worked for the nation, society and the family and now they are
neglected. The families of many have turned their back on them. Many
have broken hearts hurting economically, mentally, emotionally and we
shouldn't overlook this reality. This will be the self-portrait of our young people.
We
all have a desire to live long
lives. In the Old Testament this was considered a blessing. In the
ancient Roman world the average age of the citizens was about 22 years.
Koreans average age from 1926-30 was 33.8 years. In 2013 for men it
was
78.5 and women was 85.1. If we live to be over a hundred half of our
life will be living as an elder.
"Do
not abandon yourself to sorrow, do not torment yourself with brooding.
Gladness of heart is life to a man, joy is what gives him length of
days"
(Ecc.30:22).
Next year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and during two days at the end of September, an academic meeting of scholars from many different branches of Christianity met together to discuss the issues raised by the reformation both the light and the darkness.
It was a two-day meeting with three topics: reformation for renewal, reformation for unity and reformation for reformation. The participants were aiming for unity from division by means of theology and dialogue.
The president of the Korean's Conference of Catholic Bishops gave the opening talk at the meeting that was sponsored by Sogang University. The bishop in his opening remarks mentioned that in Korea Catholics and Protestants should not talk about what separates but what we hold in common. We need to talk about our common patrimony, meditate and pray together.
He mentioned that both the Protestants and Catholics have instead of forgiving one another, accepting and working for unity we have been condemning each other. What is different from what we hold is wrong and have disparaged the other. We should not wait for results on unity from the West but work toward unity and and be an incentive to the rest of the world.
One of the participants stressed the role of the 'Sensus Fidei' (sense of the faithful) in the work for unity within Christianity. We have to learn the way we express this feeling toward the faith in our faith life.
A Protestant participant mentioned the need of the Church to be evangelized if we are to evangelize the world. We have to find ways to reform the churches. He mentioned the need to criticize the 'three Solas': by faith alone, by grace alone, and only by Scripture. We need to return to the early church and the small church communities. The capitalist ethos that has entered the church makes this movement to the small difficult.
Over half the population of Korea: Christians and Buddhist are the majority and their influence on the country is not small. Christians number about one-third of the population. They have been formed in a community by Jesus to be one but we have inflicted wounds on the community and with a lack of understanding, conflict, and division, have also infected the larger society in its lack of harmony and reconciliation.
In conclusion a priest from Sogang Theological Research Center hopes this little flame from the Academic meeting will help us to be more in touch with the teachings of Jesus and to work for unity.
In the Peace Weekly Peace Column, the columnist introduces us to the phrase Sensus Ecclesiae (Sense of the Church). He uses the word often when he speaks with those working in the Church. It's the sensitivity to know when something is Catholic or not. The ability to distinguish and discern what is and what is not Catholic.
The faithful at baptism received the threefold mission of priest, prophet, and king. These three tasks are not carried out in the manner of the world but in the manner of the Church's understanding which is according to the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity.
Within the community of faith without the expression of these gifts, it's difficult to gain the sympathy of the community. The columnist for his part feels it's necessary to have this feeling for the Church.
Recently he attended a symposium in which one of the speakers spoke about this Sensus Fidei as a requisite in the lives of the clergy and laity if we want renewal. This Sensus Fidei is not much different from Sensus Ecclesiae: a supernatural instinct of the faithful. Because of this, there is a need to overcome the division between the teaching and learning Church. Pastors and faithful need to have sympathy for each other and with this common sensitivity toward the faith, we will have renewal.
After hearing about the Sensus Fidei he went to the book published by the International Theological Commission: Sensus Fidei In the Life of the Church, 2014.
"The importance of the sensus fidei in the life of the Church was strongly emphasized by the Second Vatican Council. Banishing the caricature of an active hierarchy and a passive laity, and in particular the notion of a strict separation between the teaching Church (Ecclesia docens) and the learning Church (Ecclesia discens), the council taught that all the baptized participate in their own proper way in the three offices of Christ as prophet, priest, and king. In particular, it taught that Christ fulfills his prophetic office not only by means of the hierarchy but also via the laity" (#4).
Consequently, the hierarchy and clergy need to respect the 'sense of the faithful' and accept them as cooperators in the work. Without this, the laity will very likely find the flame of the Holy Spirit going out. He lists six attitudes that help this sense of the faith: participating in the life of the Church, listening to the word of God, openness to reason, adherence to the magisterium, holiness - humility, freedom and joy, and edification of the Church (89~105).
The Korea Church in vitality is the envy of many other countries, however, if we look inside we see problems: authoritarianism and centrality of the clergy, immaturity, and individualism of the laity. The emphasis on the 'Sense of faith' in the symposium is the way we need to go.
In every time and space, there is going to be a minority. This is true in the world of humans: differences of thinking, appearances, tradition, and infinite ways of acting. Within this quantity we have groups who are in the majority and those in the minority, The problem is the relationship of the majority with the minority. An article in the WithBible magazine by a priest of the Seoul Diocese introduces the readers to this important issue.
This can be mutually beneficial living in harmony, or can be with conflict, and exclusion, control, and subordination. We must remember this is a question of quantity and not quality.
However, this quantity and quality are often forgotten and we mix up the two. He gives us an example of a family who getting together have prepared a meal of cold bean soup noodles. One of the family members every time she has the meal has a serious case of diarrhea and mentions this. At this time the other family members together chime in: "We are all going to eat it, you also have to, we can't prepare another dish just for you. " What would a family who spoke this way say about the family?
He begins discussion on the the the topic of homosexuality: those who are sexually attracted to the same sex be it male or female. Korea has not been very open in bringing the problems associated with homosexuality to the attention of the public. He asks the readers: Are those who are attracted to the opposite sex the majority and the normal and the minority who are attracted to the same sex abnormal and to be excluded?
He reviews the teaching in the Catechism of the Church on Chastity and Homosexuality. "Tradition has always declared that 'homosexual acts' are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life, They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved" (2357).
"The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them, it is a trial.They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and,if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition" (2358).
"Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery. that teach the inner freedom,at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace,they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection" (2359).
He concludes the article noting that the Church in Korea sadly has been silent on this issue; true also in society. This teaching has a tendency to bring about a conflict in community and wonders if the silence was not a wise way of acting. For we are faced with a greater problem when we fight about something as noble as sexuality: conservatives and progressives in holding their positions can fight and be violent.
Homosexuality is not the only issue where we have a majority on one side and a minority on the other. This is the reality of our world and requires that we always deal with those different from us with charity. A situation which is rarely achieved.
