What Has Happened to Abortion in Korea?

In Korea, as mentioned in a previous blog, the infighting on abortion has begun, and it will be a nasty fight. The daily papers report there is much anger in society, because over 90% of the obstetricians are refusing to perform any abortions for fear of being singled out by the pro life gynecologists, and prosecuted by the government.


For the first time in Korean history, doctors are fighting with one another: the pro-life forces against the pro-choice group; both trying to sway public opinion. Koreans do not have the same feeling towards abortion that we have in the States: not a moral issue but a private family matter. Even Catholic doctors see it as a necessary evil; without which they would have to close their clinics. Many of the pro life doctors have experienced running their clinics with one hand performing abortions and delivering babies with the other. "It was considered a norm that an obstetrician/gynecologist doctor perform abortions," are the words of the pro-life leader.



The embarrassment to be called the Abortion Republic and the need to raise the birth rate for replacement is a strong drive for many of the doctors to enter the pro life movement. All agree the number of abortions should decrease. Polls say most of the Koreans are against unregulated abortion; they are illegal except for specific purposes, but no one is concerned and the government does not enforce the law.



Doctors are no longer going to take the chance of going to jail. Even in cases of rape or when minors become pregnant, doctors are refusing to get involved. The daily newspapers are arousing the compassion of the readers with cases that have no access to abortion, confronted with a new social reality. The pro life doctors are forcing discussion on abortion on a government and a society that did not want to see what was going on.



The Catholic Church is not involved with the movement. It is in the hands of doctors who do not have moral or religious reasons for their oppositions, but rather a desire not to kill and want the birth rate increased. The head of the movement said, " My decision regarding pro life is based not on religious belief but the fundamental duty as a medical doctor. "

Performing abortions is lucrative and without it many can't keep their clinics open. Doctors have already left for more lucrative areas of medicine. The pro choice groups are upset at the government handling of the situation. Politicians were indifferent to abortion, but very likely we will have a movement similar to the States where politicians are asked about abortion.



Pro choice people mention we will have illicit abortions performed with danger to life, because of unsanitary conditions; women going over seas for abortions; increase of poverty and higher prices for abortion because of risks. The desire to abort is strong in society, and with discussion now beginning; attempts to change the law will begin. The pro life gynecologist have started a successful movement the religious groups could not. The gynecologist are going to be hard to ignore, since a great many of them were very much involved with abortions before they turned pro life.

What Seems Well In The Church May Not Be

When everything goes well there should be an alarm bell telling us watch out for what is happening. This was the gist of the article in our recent diocesan bulletin. The Korean Catholic Church has gained the respect of Society, a favored religion when it comes to polls and surveys. Even our Catholic religious leaders get high marks from society. However, the writer sees great problems with this for our future.


Looking over Catholic history, the seeds we plant when times are good make for later problems. With a sense of security we remove our eyes from the Lord ; bask in the ease of life, and see only what we choose to see. We do not see the weak around us; society becomes our teacher and we forget the teachings of Jesus. The status quo ( present situation ) is important, Christians do not like to hear a message that upsets this state of affairs. We want to be comforted in our ways, and those who tell us not all is well are criticized. When things were not so rosy hearing the words of Jesus were comforting, but when we are part of the good times the same talk is no longer life giving but works on the conscience. The clergy are satisfied in getting the Christians to give money and the Christians are satisfied in giving, and all are content. This situation is also affecting the religious orders. The Gospel is no longer primary.

This present situation is seen by many in and outside the Church. We are distancing ourselves from the spirit of poverty and forgetting our love we should have for all, especially the ones most in need of our love. This bothers many and we want to deny it, but our denial does not make the problems disappear. This is our opportunity to do something about the problems and again return to the Gospel and the message of Jesus.

Praying With Our Bodies

Catholics have always prayed with their bodies; more so in the past than we do in the present. Catholics kneel, genuflect, prostrate, bow , make the sign of the cross, stand , sit, strike our breasts, extend our arms, sing, walk and even scourge ourselves. Talking to God with body, mind and heart: all part of prayer.

Other religions also use the body for prayer; sadly many Catholics see this as alien to the Catholic way. Even Yoga was to help in meditation and not primarily for health reasons.

St. Dominic had nine ways in which he prayed with the body: click here. There are many ways to pray and since God knows what we want to say before we say it: prayer is our way of being open to what God wants to say to us. Using the body we open ourselves to God in more ways than just the heart and mind.

How to pray with the body is one of the items that a religious order has made part of their retreat schedule.

In the quiet of our rooms or in Church, outside of the liturgy, it would be good to see more ways of lifting up our hearts to God. Singing is a way of praying with the body that we know has great value. They who sing pray twice we hear often; the singing adds a great deal to participation in the liturgy.

Koreans love to sing and when it comes to the liturgy even in the smallest mission stations, where we have few at the morning Mass, we have song. It would be strange for a Korean to meet for a party of any kind and not sing. We have "singing rooms" that people pay to spend some time together singing. The liturgy in Korea because of Koreans love for song makes the liturgy a "public celebration" in the true sense of the world.

In years past the Catholic Koreans would take off their shoes before entering the Church. There were no benches and the women would sit on one side and the men on the other. Most of the parishioners would hold their hands clasped together in the front of their chests and hold this position for most of the Mass. This made for a devout atmosphere for the celebration of the Mass.

The position and movements of our bodies do influence thoughts and feelings not only of the individuals but also of the congregation and the celebrant. When our bodies are involved in prayer this will help melt our rigidness, show our dependence on God, and open us in a humbler way to God's holiness.

What is Happening to Patriarchy in Korea?

A women's place in a patriarchal society is the home and under the male: the dominance of male over the female in social and cultural systems. Thanks to the legacy of Confucianism, Korea is still considered a patriarchal society. But we do have big changes: Women Generals in the military. In the recent issue of the Catholic papers there is an interview with the fifth woman who was promoted to General and a Catholic:

What is your feelings in being the first Catholic to be promoted to General?

The first General was promoted in 2001 and I am the fifth. I feel inadequate and am concerned on how I can be of help to the military.

What was your motivation in entering the military?

My father was a marine and his principles of education, and the way he saw the country had a great influence on me. I was exposed to nursing in high school and made my choice for the military academy. The nursing school of the military academy is forming capable officers who will service the country and the military. The present ratio of competition is 30 to one.
We plan to expand our international exchange by forming leaders with capabilities that will be recognized internationally and leaders with human qualities.

You have been in military life for 31 years do you have any words of advice for the nursing officers?

The reason for the military is to protect the country and prevent wars. The way we see the country and the military has to be clear: in emergencies the country has to precede our own needs. The work of nursing officers are to see that the soldiers have the greatest capabilities in health of mind and body and to minimize the obstacles in their fighting capabilities to defend the country.

I have had many difficulties but not once have I ever regretted joining the military.


What is your opinion of women's place in the military?

The place of the woman is not as replacement for men, but the need for women's delicateness and faithfulness, meticulous sensitivity and openness in doing their work, enabling synergy to develop. Nowadays women soldiers are the equals of the men in body strength and spirit. Women are promoting the spirit and battle capabilities of the military; the need for women will be greater with technological advances and specialization.

How do you maintain your spiritual life?

I was born into a Catholic family and received baptism as a baby. Much is lacking in my faith life but God forgives and I thank God for the happiness I have found in life.

I especially found a great deal of satisfaction working in the field hospitals taking care of the sick and working where there were no priests or sisters and being called sister and mother. During that time I was able to distribute rice rolled in dried laver and rice cakes to those in the hospital. I was able to do something without bringing any attention to myself and considered it precious time.

These days I am going to a mission station with my two daughters and husband, who is a Navy Colonel . I hope in the future I will be able to return to others some of the glory and blessings I have received in a renewed life of faith.

Life Does Not Stop at 60

The Church is blessed to have many movements that energize the Church and the Christians. Life Ascending International is one of these movements opened to all Christians. The movement was introduced to Korea in 2003, and recently had a general meeting in Seoul publicized by the Catholic papers. This should help the movement grow. L.A.I Korea, is affiliated with the International Head Quarters in France. A movement to deepen awareness of God, create and enjoy lasting friendships and to share wisdom and concern for others-- Spirituality, Friendship and Mission.

The movement began in France with a group of elderly Christians with the support of the Bishop of Paris and French Catholic Action. After the association moved to Rome it spread to every continent. In 1996 it was recognized by the Church as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right.

The movement sees our lives divided into four stages: first, youthful years from the time you are a child to marriage and work, the second from marriage to retirement, the third from retirement to the time we become dependent on others, and the last stage is dependence on others.

The international spiritual director of the movement talked about Spirituality and happiness at the recent general meeting in Seoul. Old Age is a gift of God; how do I use these years that I have been given in a profitable way? He talked about thinking too much of what ails us, and not enough about what we have and can do.

The members are trying to live a life according to the Gospels. It is called the Ascending life because it is life that is growing, ascending. We continue to grow in the third stage. There is no limit to experience and human maturity. It is not a life ascending to heaven, but rather, life growing here and now towards a human and Christian fullness.

St. Paul in 2nd Corinthians puts it very beautifully when he says: "That is why there is no weakening on our part, and instead, though this outer man of ours may be falling into decay, the inner man is renewed day by day. "

What Is True Beauty?

In one of the Chinese classics you have the story of a student, traveling at night, overcome with a great thirst. He picked up a gourd filled with water and drank with great pleasure. The next morning that refreshment turned into nausea, when he saw that the water container was part of a skeleton.

We know that our thoughts and emotions ,when not controlled, give us much pain, but to actualize this in our lives is a big step. To gain composure, peace and joy in life does not depend on exterior things, but what we have done with them in our interior life. A woman professor at the Catholic University makes us face again the problems of cosmetic surgery in our society, and how this craze for manipulated beauty is hurting both us and the country.

The number of deaths, and the after-effects of this surgery brought to our attention in the news, do little to stop the swarm of men and women frequenting cosmetic hospitals. Her article in the Peace Weekly was an honest, refreshing look at a serious problem we have in Korea.

It starts with harmless cosmetics, dying of the hair, removing skin spots and moves on to cosmetic surgery. There is no interest in seeing why we are alienated from ourselves. Will power, no longer part of whom we are, has little to do with our actions. What is important is the flow in society-- what is in fashion.

Our bodies have become commodities and tools; given to others to package in a way that will be attractive. Standardization of beauty and the art of packaging is what we are becoming adept at, searching for what we are not. The price that one pays for this beautification is not seen; not rarely, we have persons becoming addicted to the process.

The professor gives great blame for the situation to the media. It does little to show the dangers of this surgery, no movement to enlighten the public, complicit in the making our bodies instruments and overly absorbed with packaging.

Both women and men should not stop at the exterior but get in touch with the inner person and see the maturity and beauty that is there; try to know the person in depth: accepting the dignity of all, as they are, is the only way we will get a society that is mature and equal.

The article was another one in the series that have to do with the culture of life. It is an area of life that we often restrict to the most important areas: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. However, they all are in some way intertwined with one another. The life of the spirit is what is going to determine how we act, and what we think ; when the inner life is 'a free for all' we will have the problems that torment many in society.

Russian Orthodox Want a Church in Seoul

In recent months the Russian Embassy has asked for a piece of land to build a Church in Seoul; a request written up in recent Korean newspapers. The relationship of the Russian Government to the Russian Orthodox Church is intimate. There aren't many democratic countries that would ask a foreign government to help build a Church. A ministry official said, if Russia insists, it could be a drawback for Korea-Russia relations, which will mark its 20th anniversary next year.

The Russian Orthodox Church in Korea has a very turbulent history. The first Church was constructed in the central area of Seoul and was named in honor of St. Nicholas. It was built with a gift from the emperor, and destroyed during the Korean War. The Russian government has on a number of occasions asked the Korean Government for land to build a church in the capital city--they have one in north Korea built in Pyongyang in 2006.

The spot that Russia has in mind is the former Russian legation, where Emperor Gojong(1852-1919) took refuge for one year to escape the Japanese who were planning to assassinate him. The place is now designated as one of the nation's Historic Sites.

Russian Orthodoxy is the dominant religion in Russia. There's no Russian Orthodox Church currently open in Korea, and Russian residents in Seoul have to go to another part of the city where they use the Greek Orthodox Church for the liturgy.

The initial request was made by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II during President Lee Myung-bak's visit to Russia in September of 2008. President Lee is known to have said he'd consider it.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade followed up on the request by asking the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism if they would agree to the proposal - both rejected it."Fundamentally, the request is against the Korean Constitution that states the separation of church and state," said an official at the ministry and added it isn't in line with religious parity.

The Catholic Church of Korea does not have a close relationship with the Russian Orthodox because of their sporadic presence in Korea. However, the climate between Rome and Moscow is probably the closest it has been in centuries. It would be a nice gesture if the Catholic Church could facilitate this acquiring of property in Seoul, but it is an issue with many problems.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met on December 3 with Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux. Welcoming the delegation His Holiness Kirill stressed the importance of dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. He recalled that both in Russia and France, Christians had to go through severe hardships caused by revolutionary events and attempts to build the life of society without God. "Today we encounter the challenges of secularism. It is necessary to meet them together, basing ourselves on historical experience," he said.

We do not know when nor where nor even if there is going to be an Orthodox Church built with the help of the Korean Government, but there will be an Orthodox Church some day in Seoul, and the Korean Catholic Church will be welcoming of their presence.