Common Elements of Tunnels and Dialogue

In one of the parish bulletins, the writer shows the readers the similarity of tunnels to dialogue.

Korea is a land of mountains and valleys. When we move from one area to another we are moving over mountains to valleys. Koreans are people who live in the heart of the mountains.

Civil engineering technology is well developed in Korea and is recognized throughout the world. This is shown with the construction of tunnels. Wherever we go in Korea no longer necessary to go over mountains for we have tunnels that have decreased the time for travel and made it comfortable with the removal of obstacles of the past.

He dreams of a time when we will remove the obstacles between people like the tunnels that increased the comfort of travel. What do you see as the technique that will enable us to overcome the obstacles that prevent easy encounters with others? Our writer sees this as dialogue. The ability to express what is inside of us to another and to hear what the other wants to convey without any obstacles or hesitancy.
He believes that dialogue is the first step in solving problems we have among ourselves.

Of course, dialogue is not always accompanied by pleasant emotions, words that are easy to accept, and always positive. We often hear just the opposite. Is this not very natural and to be expected? It is by going thru this give and take, saying what is inside without any obstacles and hesitancy that the possibility of understanding is present.

In dialogue one thing is important and that is to listen. We need to ask ourselves how much time is spent listening to the other. Talking without listening is worse than not talking in the first place.

Pope Francis in his 56th Communication Day Message gives us some important issues to ponder in our capacity to listen.

"In reality, in many dialogues, we do not communicate at all. We are simply waiting for the other person to finish speaking to impose our point of view. In these situations, as philosopher Abraham Kaplan notes,  dialogue is a duologue: a monologue in two voices. In true communication, however, the “I” and the “you” are both “moving out”, reaching out to each other.
 
"Listening is therefore the first indispensable ingredient of dialogue and good communication. Communication does not take place if listening has not taken place..."
 

Go Into the Whole World

Talking with theologians, religious, the faithful, and the young, about Christ and the Church, His Beloved Bride, is exciting and joyful, both for the doer and the listener.
 
In the Catholic Peace Weekly, a professor in a Catholic University in her column expresses her feelings when she meets the young students in her class, obliged to take a Christian-related course. Her mind awakens as if suddenly she came out of a greenhouse in the middle of winter. How can we tell them that the life and message of Jesus, a young man of Nazareth, who lived 2,000 years ago, is "meaningful" to them? It seems to be the same dilemma Pope Saint John XXIII and the 3,000 bishops had, gathered at the council half a century ago.
 
The church does not exist only for those who are saved to be comforted and happy in it. Of course, Christians will and should receive comfort, courage, and strength. Yet the church is chosen to enjoy such joy, and at the same time includes the mission to invite others to enter.
 
In Christianity, acceptance of the invitation and mission are two sides of the same coin. Moses, the prophets, the apostles, the founders of the Religious Orders, etc. all clearly exemplified this characteristic, the same for all Christians. Christ's command to preach the gospel to the end of the world has been given to all disciples. As St. Thomas Aquinas said, no one is excluded from the proclamation of the truth of the Gospel. Jesus Christ is not only a truth we make our own but a truth to be proclaimed 'from the rooftops'.
 
However, it is not easy to realize this mission in the world in which we live. In this world, values, consciousness, and lifestyle change quickly, even material things. This change is unpredictable and difficult to grasp or understand. Moreover, the generational gap is so large that one wonders if we are really contemporaries. At some point, our society divides generations, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation M, Generation Z, and children born after 2010 are now called the Alpha Generation. Young people are collectively called the MZ generation, but do they fall into one category? Even the youth of Generation Z are different from each other.
 
Many people try not to enter or let others into their lives. When it comes to love that requires effort, sacrifice, and patience, there are those who do not want such painful love. Some will make concessions right up to the time they will lose money. What is interesting is that Baby Boomers and Generation X are also following the individualism of young people. The generation gap in this regard is getting smaller.
 
In this context, how can we proclaim Jesus Christ, who was willing to sacrifice himself, accepting irrational treatment and insults, when it was his Father's Will to serve. However, can this truth not be reduced or distorted in order to please people? The truth we must proclaim is "the same Christ yesterday, today, and tomorrow." How do we proclaim this enduring truth in this ever-changing world and people? This was the concern of Catholic intellectuals in the rapidly changing modern society of the 19th century. Pope John XXIII in the 20th century, the bishops of the Council, and later popes, and now this is the concern of all of us. How can the Church be the "soul of the world" to borrow the expression of Article 40 of the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World?

Forming Virtues

 
 

Virtue is a word used often. In Korea, it is mostly found in compound words making it often difficult to understand its traditional meaning as habits of the body and soul. A director of a Spirituality Center in the Catholic Times Weekly gives us some thoughts to ponder on the subject.
 
Virtue (德) is a factor that makes human beings more dignified. People can be divided into those who are virtuous and those who are not. The virtues considered important to Christians are the theological: (faith, hope, love), the three evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience), and the four cardinal virtues (wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance). The Apostle Paul exhorts us: "Finally, fill your minds with everything true, noble, good and pure, everything that we love and honor, and that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise (Phil 4:8).
 
How, then, is virtue formed within us?
"A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts but to give the best of themselves. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all their sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions" (Catechism of the Church 1803).
 
He recalls the director of the 'God of Study' program, who has made several attempts to get students to study. He has explained the program but with little success. You have to make them want to do it. So he created a motivational program and gave a lot of advice. But it lasted for a very short time.
 
In the end, it was 'making habits' that made children study. A study at the University of London found that repeating the same thing for 66 days can make it a habit. Based on this, he created a habit calendar and had them fill in the blanks day by day for 66 days.
 
The results were very surprising. The children who started learning study habits turned into study-loving children after 66 days. We have Lent, a 40-day habit-forming period. If you can fight and overcome vices for 40 days, you can survive for 3 years the time of Jesus' public life. And if you can survive three years, you are well on to making it a habit for life.
 
If you begin a program of 6-weeks wanting to quit the use of alcohol, the first two weeks will be hell. For the next two weeks, you have to fight the thought: 'Why do I have to suffer like this?' For the last two weeks, it's more like: 'Oh, it's easier than I thought?' But when you become arrogant, you fall apart. If you can endure that for three years, you will become a person with the habit of abstinence.
 
The author of the book Grit, Angela Duckworth, was often told by her father, that she didn't have the 'smarts' and wouldn't succeed. However, at the age of 43, she received a prestigious award, that was awarded to only 20 from all over the world.
 
In psychology, 'grit' refers to 'the power to endure to the end when one reaches the limit'. The ability to persevere to the end creates a habit, and when it becomes a virtue, you have reached your desired goal. To develop grit, she says, make a 'habit of getting things done, even the little things."
 
For good health, just a simple exercise is enough to start with— the set plan must be completed 'unconditionally' to the end. "If you don't succeed, it's not because you don't have the capability, it's because you gave up," she says.
 
Let's start with the habit of making the sign of the cross when we go to bed and wake up. The day will come when prayer becomes a virtue and part of life.

What Makes a House a Home?

 

What makes a house a home? Different are the ways we choose to express ourselves but certainly, it is not the external, physical aspects of the house in which we live. Is it not more a feeling, the quality of life one experiences?

In a diocesan parish bulletin, a university professor gives us some thoughts on the subject and the reasons for family members to present a verification certificate of their place in the family.

May is the month of the family. He recommends that parents and children, husband and wife, and other members all list their place and role in the family.  Looking at the list they will have a new understanding and feeling down deep in their hearts towards the family.

When you see the content of the relationship we are so familiar with, one can't help thinking about the preciousness of each and every member of the family. However, there is one more document needed: a verification that God requires of us.

A family relationship certificate is just that. How is the 'home' different from family? The family [가족] represents blood kinship, while the 'home' [가정] represents the space in which the relationship is lived, the family community.

A family relationship certificate is sufficient to prove who the family members are, but the family relationship certificate will not show how well the family members communicate and relate with each other.
Not everybody who lives in a family lives in a home. Even if they are together, together as islands, the family relationship exists but not family life.

Living apart from the family does not make family life impossible. If hearts are connected in love, the community of joy with the family exists for they are connected with family with calls, mail, and with love. On the other hand, if one remains in the house but closes the door of one's room and lives without conversation one is living alone with the family.

Have a happy month of May, completing a family relationship certificate that is not ashamed before God and more meticulously prepared than our tax documents.

Human Rights And Covid-19

It has been more than two years, writes a lawyer in the Catholic Peace Weekly since they worked with human rights activists, and researchers, to organize guidelines on human rights issues surrounding COVID—suggest laws and policies for improvement, and intervene in individual cases of human rights violations. 

We need to begin again, talk and reflect and bring about change for those who still need help, those who have been left behind, and those who will be victims in the future. What have we learned from COVID-19 and what can we change?
 
They have met the families of the victims affected by the COVID-19 vaccine and attended memorial services for the dead. Shortly after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, people have died or their health deteriorated, but authorities say the virus has nothing to do with it. Anger and distrust are bound to increase. 

The Infectious Disease Prevention Act stipulates that the state compensates for 'adverse reactions after vaccination' and death 'regardless of negligence', but there are only a few cases where the relationship is recognized. Although partial assistance is available for some, it is often not possible to maintain a level that can compensate for damage or the continuation of treatment.
 
It was just recently that the voices of the numerous COVID-19 deaths, seriously ill patients, and their families began to be heard. Attend press conferences and memorial services. The Infectious Disease Prevention Act clearly stipulates that 'People have the right to receive diagnosis and treatment for infectious diseases under this Act at a medical institution, and the state and local governments must bear the costs for this. The regulations limit the scope of support to 'quarantine. If there is no death during 'quarantine', it will not be included in the death toll due to COVID-19.
 
The issue of health equity has continued to appear in human rights-related meetings, and in various discussions and lectures. There have been many discussions and issues raised regarding problems with discrimination against workers, migrants, disabled, homeless, and prison inmates but the improvement has been slow and only partially improved.
 
In fact, there is no plan for mourning and remembrance for the more than 20,000 people in this 'roadmap'. So far, there has been little concern for the socially underprivileged, vulnerable groups, and health equity. There are practically no specific measures for those who have died or are seriously ill with COVID-19, and the target and scope of support for vaccine victims will  slightly increase. There is no plan for the establishment of an organization in charge of human rights, with experts and civil society. It seems clear that this falls short of what most members of society had expected and wanted.
 
The post-COVID-19 world must be different. Those with authority and responsibility need to have a sincere attitude of 'unlimited responsibility' and 'listening'. Letting go of 'politics, arrogance, and carelessness'.
 

 

 

 

 

Eco-friendly Energy

 

A director of a Green Transition Station research center explains to the readers of a Pastoral Bulletin his concern for the future of ecological progress.
 
On the occasion of the 52nd Earth Day, young people held an event to collect trash at a Wetland Ecological Park. The ecological park still has traces of salt fields and narrow-gauge train tracks from the past. It was crowded with families and lovers enjoying spring.
 
The citizens watching the young people picking up trash were moved by their efforts. The writer was proud to see the response of the young people to the conservation of the mudflats. Trash had decreased. Rare would persons indiscriminately throw trash away in a park, but it must also be because there is less trash flowing into the ecological park.
 
The vast west coast tidal flats have become smaller. Although it was a spawning ground and site for many fish and shellfish, it's now turned mostly into apartments and industrial complexes. What memories did environmental organizations' Earth Day activities convey to citizens visiting the park?
 
As the mudflats disappear, the seawater, which used to come in and out twice a day, stops in front of the apartment complex. Can the Ecological Park, and Ultra High-rise Apartment Complexes remain safe even if the earth gets hotter?
 
Meteorologists claim that the number of typhoons will become stronger when the seawater gets warmer by 1 degree Celsius, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the United Nations recently released a report. If warming is not prevented, the sea level will rise by 90cm by the end of this century.
 
Even though environmental groups warned of a crisis 52 years ago, governments turned a blind eye or suppressed the news, change came slowly.
 
As climate talks continue, many pretend to listen. Our government declared carbon neutrality by 2050, which the IPCC evaluated as insufficient. They warned we would avoid catastrophe only if carbon neutrality was achieved by 2040, but the present regime, about to be launched, is in doubt.
 
The previous government's policy if implemented, electricity prices would rise and GDP decrease, increasing nuclear power plants. However, as confirmed by the Fukushima accident, nuclear power plants are currently not secure. The related research is now unknown, will it suddenly become possible?
 
The problem of climate change in the face of crisis is greenhouse gas due to energy and consumption, and of course, Korea is not able to solve all the problems.
 
Nuclear power plant electricity is only about 30% in Korea. Most countries are under 30 percent or without nuclear power. Exceptions are France and some countries, which are trying to reduce the risk to less than 50%. The total amount of energy spent building, operating, and disposing of them is seen by many as not the answer to preventing climate change with nuclear power. This is why Europe is reluctant to classify nuclear power as eco-friendly.
 
50 years ago climate change was not a pressing issue. The energy was not considered necessary for the enjoyment of life. Even if we have less than we have now we should look at our happy ancestors. We need happiness that is sustainable.

Understanding of Labor in a Korean Archdiocese

 

The results of a recent survey by an Archdiocesan Labor Pastoral Commission were announced recently and written up in the recent Catholic Peace Weekly.

 

Catholics were found to have a strong desire to reflect on the meaning and value of work practices following the social teachings of the church. 

 

The survey was conducted from October 7 to 31, 2021, targeting 309 men and women 17 years of age or older who were connected with the Archdiocese of Seoul.

 

As a result of the survey, 79.3% of respondents said that they view what they do as God's calling. Also, 91.3% of respondents said they were Catholic at work. 93.9% of the respondents indicated that they considered themselves contributing to society through their work. Regarding the importance of justice in the workplace, 90.3% of the respondents said they are willing to raise an objection when they see unfair work practices. 82.8% of the respondents said that the Catholic Church helps them understand the value of work. 

 

To the question of who is socially underprivileged in the workplace, workers with disabilities accounted for the most at 46.3%, followed by workers injured by industrial accidents at 36.2%, migrant workers at 32.4%, and youth workers at 31.4%. 

 

Looking at the field of whether the working environment is safe, 78% of the respondents answered that the cause of industrial accidents was due to management which puts profits at top priority. It was followed by 45.6% of companies' negligence in safety management, and 43.7% said that it was due to little concern for punishment and regulations. 

 

By economic activity group, the response of 'workers' lack of safety awareness' was higher in the employer group, while wage workers pointed to the causes in the company. The Labor Minister’s Committee analyzed this, saying: "It indicates the need for specialization in education for each economically active group."

 

Regarding whether working conditions are just, 85.4% of the respondents said that they did not enjoy enough rest and leisure, and 88% of the respondents answered that they thought they were not being paid enough. The reason for not receiving sufficient remuneration was that there were a lot of non-regular jobs, and large companies set low subcontract prices. 

 

As for whether our society provides enough jobs, 87.4% of the respondents answered that they did not. As the cause of the job shortage, 50.2% answered that the government's lack of effective employment policy was the reason.

 

As for whether they would like to participate in labor-related social doctrine education and labor pastoral activities, 63.1% of the respondents expressed their intention to participate in labor-related education based on social doctrine. In addition, 33.3% of the respondents expressed their intention to participate in the activities of the Catholic Church related to labor issues.

 

The Labor and Pastoral Committee said: "The results of the survey on 'labor and faith' in commemoration of the World Day for Decent Work on October 7, 2021, will call on governments to develop jobs plans. The survey examined the values ​​of work among believers and reminds us of various current issues facing our society." The article ends with a prayer that believers and the church reflect together and joyfully continue their journey toward 'Christ, the working man'.