Future of the Church

 

The Director of Catholic Culture and the Theology Institute has some strong words for the readers of the Catholic Times in his column The Theological Hall.

Is it a time to lose hope in the future? Is it as gloomy as it seems? He doesn't often hear stories that predict the future with optimism. Humanity always seems to define its era as an era of crisis. Since man is an animal of adaptation, he may be able to overcome any crisis situation. However, the pessimistic outlook of this era is not a mere end-of-the-century phenomenon. It is based on the symptoms in society as a whole, along with the crisis caused by ecological and climatic changes.

How do we endure the era when hope that the world will be better has disappeared? Is there anything we can do to enjoy the present? An attitude of seeking simple happiness in the present rather than feeling frustrated thinking about the bleak future? People have a vague premonition of future crises and catastrophes but do little to prepare or respond.  

 

People do not always act according to what they know. The French philosopher Jean-Pierre Dupuy has a sad diagnosis. “There is a peculiar characteristic of the era ahead of catastrophe, which is predicted to come, but whose exact date is unknown. Even if people know that a worrisome event is about to happen, and consider that it will happen as a fait accompli or a quasi-established fact, they do not turn their knowledge of catastrophe into belief. I know, but I do not believe everything.” (“Catastrophe or Life?”)

 

It is important to dispassionately diagnose reality and foresee the future. The reason why today's churches are gradually losing vitality is due to a combination of internal and external factors. The direction of the world is gradually moving people away from the traditional way of religious life. The Church, too, fails to present itself attractively in the world. The church should be able to read the signs of the times and provide a healthy way of practicing the faith. There are times, however, when we have to confront the direction of the world for the sake of faith and the value of the gospel.

 

The Korean Catholic Church peaked in the 1990s. Although the number of believers is not decreasing, the absence of youth and the younger generations and the increase of aging believers is great. The rate of active participation in the religious life of the parish is also significantly decreasing. The role of the parish is gradually reduced to a place where only the liturgy is celebrated. 

 

All statistical indicators in the church prevent us from being optimistic about the future. If the current generation participating in church activities disappears, will a new generation flow into the church? It is not difficult to see that the church is in crisis, not only by statistical indicators but also by looking honestly at the reality of the parish. It is clearly a church in crisis. However, it is difficult to find talk of a crisis in the church. Of course, if you look at the history of the church, the church has faced many crises, but it has carried out its mission of evangelization while maintaining its identity. Ultimately, the church is cared for and led by the Holy Spirit. However, the activities of the Holy Spirit always include the efforts of devoted believers, the pioneering practices of outstanding saints, and the wisdom of the magisterium that reads the times. Failure to read the world accurately and lack of effort for self-renewal darken the future of the church.

People still have an interest in transcendent and spiritual longing. Depending on the era, the appearance and practice of religion change, and the way of practicing the faith may change. In fact, paradoxically in the age of secularization, the role and function of religion in society are emphasized and requested more. In an era where all ideologies begin to disappear, religion is the biggest driving force that can move people. 

Religious devotion becomes a medium of communal solidarity and connection and will still operate as a powerful force in today's world. In today's fragmented world, the church must be able to present an alternative community image and communal vision.

Future generations (MZ generation and Alpha generation) are generations with strong self-centeredness and individuality. They are not familiar with the vertical hierarchy of groups and communities and the virtue of self-sacrifice. In a relationship with others, it emphasizes purpose and effectiveness rather than emotional sympathy. The pandemic exposed the hidden inner thoughts of religious behavior and accelerated change. The fluidity of believers was further strengthened. In individualized and isolated societies, people demand minimal communal relationships. We pursue loose network solidarity and intimacy rather than dense and tight relationships. 

 

How will the church carry out its mission in the changing environment? The hierarchical structure centered on the clergy is no longer considered attractive and well-accepted by society. The framework of church life must be changed in such a way that the autonomous and active participation of individual believers can be guaranteed. In the realm of pastoral care, the virtues and values ​​of territorialism are abundant, but now the method of personalism also needs to find its place. This means that changes in small communities, districts, and class meetings are required to revitalize the parish. Fundamental changes are needed in the Church's mission and pastoral style.

 

Role of public discourse The future of existing pastoral care is uncertain. Most church members demand that the church change. At the individual level, everyone worries about the future of the church. However, there is no public discourse on crisis and renewal within the church. Although ‘pastoral conversion’ and ‘synodalitas’ are being proposed as topics, in the reality of the church, those propositions are consumed like passing slogans. 

 

Could it be that the older generation of the church is satisfied with the current way of life of faith and is negligent and lazy in looking to the future? The older generation should prepare for the future generation and prepare a place for them to live as the leading figures of the church. However, is it not the older generation still monopolizing authority? It is often found that young priests who will live with future generations are having a hard time because they do not have authority and a role in the hierarchical structure. It's a sad reality.

 

He hopes that the discourse of change and renewal towards the future will be actively developed in the church. Even if a specific solution is not presented, efforts and practices toward the future must be made through the formation of public discourse, and dialogue. The appearance of concern and effort itself is a sign of change and renewal. The church of this era must create new ways and substructures of religious life through the reinterpretation of tradition. He hopes to find the study and efforts to discover new ideas and an accurate reading of the signs of the times within the church. What the church of today desperately needs is not despair and lament, but study and search.

Reason for Death

In the Reconciliation column of the Catholic Times a research fellow of the Catholic Northeast Asia Peace Institute gives the readers something to think about.

Looking back on his own life history, there are times when he felt unique. And even though it was a short time, there are also useful aspects in looking at today's various phenomena and meditating on things experienced.
 
His first job was as a certified labor attorney dealing with labor relations and labor management. While working on the project, he began to worry that if economic cooperation between the two Koreas was revitalized, there would be labor-management issues different from those in the past.

In other words, labor-management relations in Korea occur between Korean companies and workers, but problems of a different type occur between Korean companies and North Korean workers where inter-Korean economic cooperation takes place. Conflicts may arise as a result, so they go to the Kaesong Industrial Complex to gain experience.

However, while dealing with labor-management issues between the two Koreas at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, he realized that his knowledge of North Korea was lacking and began his studies on the situation and it has continued to the present,
 
Looking at recent inter-Korean relations, he is concerned that it may be returning to the period of sharp confrontation before the April 27, 2018 summit agreement. In particular, if we return to the situation before September 19, 2018, inter-Korean military agreement, which was agreed upon with great difficulty, we are concerned that military clashes will recur and tensions on the Korean Peninsula will rise rapidly.
 
 So why is this happening? While looking at inter-Korean relations, he remembers the 'death certificates' he came across working as a public labor attorney. The cause of death is classified as an antecedent cause, intermediate cause, and direct cause of death on the death certificate. For example: if a patient suffering from hypertension develops a cerebral hemorrhage and dies of cardiac arrest, hypertension is an antecedent cause, cerebral hemorrhage is the intermediate cause, and cardiac arrest is the direct cause. Although the person died of cardiac arrest, the fundamental problem is to start with high blood pressure. However, if you try to look only at the direct cause of cardiac arrest without looking at the antecedent cause, it becomes difficult to solve the problem. 

He thinks the perspective on today's inter-Korean relations is also similar. Perhaps we are ignoring the antecedent cause and are only interested in the visible direct cause. It is a situation where they are only shouting: “Why did your heart stop?”
 
To actually solve the problem, we need to look at the antecedent cause. It seems that the power of discernment is needed to calmly examine what the preceding cause was and whether there are ways to resolve it.
 

Following Right Reason with a 'Docile Ear'

 

In the Light of the World column of the Catholic Times the priest reminds the readers that we live in the world. 

"The Church, sharing in mankind's joys and hopes, in its anxieties and sadness, stands with every man and woman of every place and time, to bring them the good news of the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus Christ has come and continues to be present among them. Amid mankind and in the world she is the sacrament of God's love and, therefore, of the most splendid hope, which inspires and sustains every authentic undertaking for and commitment to human liberation and advancement. The Church is present among mankind as God's tent of meeting, “God's dwelling place among men” (cf. Rev 21:3), so that man is not alone, lost, or frightened in his task of making the world more human; thus men and women find support in the redeeming love of Christ. As minister of salvation, the Church is not in the abstract nor a merely spiritual dimension, but in the context of the history and of the world in which man lives. Here mankind is met by God's love and by the vocation to cooperate in the divine plan. (Compendium of the Social Gospel #60)

"It's pathetic to see the opposition party! You're always in political trouble!" 2nd: "How is that the Opposition's fault? It's the fault of the ruling party!" 3rd person: "Criticism is good, but everyone needs to calm down! We're going to fight!" 

These days, time flies by fast, He doesn't know if he can learn anything from what is going on. He saw an article called 'The Age of the Stale Adults' in a daily newspaper. When there are so many adults not acting like adults we hear such pitiable words. He is in his forties a time when he is not to be swayed by temptation. However, he is overcome with guilt feelings.[ Analects: Stages of life according to Confucius. At 15 I set my heart on learning. At 30, I planted my feet firmly on the ground. At 40, I no longer suffered from temptations. At 50, I knew what was the bidding of heaven. At 60, I heard them with docile ears. At 70, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right].

 

For the past few years, he has written on the social doctrine of the church, what is meant by a good society in God's eyes, which is the aim of the Catholic Church. To do that, he had to look closely at what was happening in society. He would rather have preferred writing about beautiful things that could be an example to children but had to deal with social issues where problems and conflicts are frequent. It was a preferential choice of the scene and neighborhood in which we live.

 

Recently, when he meets his acquaintances, he doesn't have many optimistic stories to share. There are many injuries to life issues, and major negative factors in society, but the one that stands out for him is in politics. Some criticize the opposition party for not cooperating with the president and some take to the streets every weekend with candles again because they distrust the ruling party. He believes that both are doing it for the good of the country, society, the poor, and powerless neighbors, even if their methods and thoughts are different.

But someone said, "Father, all I can do is pray for the homeless who die without family, and for those who live on the streets." The employees of the Seoul Diocese's Labor Affairs Committee, where he works, were receiving signatures at the Seoul Station asking the citizens for their attention to commemorate the workers who died in industrial accidents and to prevent these unfortunate deaths. It's not for personal gain, it's purely because of compassion and love for neighbor. They are those who testify to the gospel and faith with goodwill.

 

Although confusing, there is love and warmth in society. It seems to be heading toward conflict and division, but some people cooperate, respect each other, and offer their hands in trust. So is the history of salvation that the Bible testifies to. There were always difficulties and tribulations, and many large and small empires rose and fell, but the faith community has continued to follow God in his providence and leadership in grace faithfully.

 

Without the generosity of the heart that is needed, there will always be antagonism and difficulties. Broken promises and deceit will continue to disappoint us. However, some wise people continue to write, pray, and look carefully at their neighbors and the world and are not overcome by temptation, work at doing the bidding of God, and have docile ears. They are the wise who are following God's right reason and he hopes that we are among such people.

Small Group Meetings

 

In the recent Catholic Times a director of a Theological Institute gives the readers her understanding of group discussion an area that has been neglected for too long, even before the pandemic. We have become Lone Rangers.

This  coming Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Personally, when she looks back on the past year many  things have happened but one of the new things is that she has been together with a small faith group in meetings related to women. The reading club run by the Catholic Bible Society held  meetings to read books and share them online for about a year and a half under the theme of “Church and Women.” Thanks to a male religious, who was a member of the reading club, gave the group  space to gather at the monastery. They decided to meet there once a month and to keep the meeting open so that not only those who were in the book club but also anyone interested in the subject could participate, and  decided to hold it online at the same time for those who live far away.

 

She has often planned meetings or programs related to research institute activities, but this faith meeting feels new in that participants take the lead and organize it together. It is also a meeting with the theme of ‘women’, and it is interesting that a significant number of men also participate. The ages range from young people in their 20s to middle-aged people in their 50s, and each of them does a variety of things. There is no need to appoint a representative or person in charge, as each  voluntarily shares roles in various tasks necessary for the meeting, from preparing snacks to setting the theme of the meeting. Various news from the church and the world related to women is shared  in the open chat room to promote the meeting.

 

They've only gathered three times and it's still in the beginning stage, but are looking forward to the future.  The November meeting suggested that we make a 'Catholic Sexual Violence Prevention Guideline' together. 

 

Protestant churches and overseas Catholic churches are releasing sexual assault prevention guidelines to create a peaceful and safe church culture, but the Korean Catholic Church decided to discuss and create them on their own instead of waiting  for these materials to come out. A participant who works as a counselor in the United States shared various materials from the parish there. She decided to study in advance and is  looking forward to what they will be  talking about at this meeting.

 

One of the trends of the younger generation these days is that a number of small groups that share hobbies or interests is increasing. The Millennials and the Generation Z  (MZ Generation) has a strong individualistic tendency to enjoy life alone, but it is said that they pursue a loose form of social relationship and community where they comfortably share their interests and needs. They want a new community where they can find emotional support and empathy while respecting the diversity of each person.

 

In the parish, which is gradually returning to normal life after the pandemic, many members and volunteers have left many apostolic organizations such as district and small village meetings  that have  operated previously, and are struggling to fill the vacancy. She  wonders what it would be like to introduce these active group members to  small groups and apostolic activities.

 

A colleague of the writer at the  research institute who serves as the head of education at the parish is preparing for small community meetings according to the different interests of the group. We are investigating the number of believers who are willing to participate in these  small group meetings and searching for the subjects of the meeting in advance to start next year around Easter. More than 100 people have signed up for various meeting topics. It is planned to be operated so that not only believers but also local residents can participate. It is the first time such an attempt has been made, so they are  worried about what will happen  but she hopes that it will all work out well.

 

 

Let's Get Over the Peace From Fear—

 

The Catholic Times Weekly in its National Reconciliation and Unification column, the secretary of the  Bishops' National Reconciliation Committee gives the readers some thoughts on the peace we all desire.

The Cuban Missile Crisis is considered one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. In October 1962, if the crisis had escalated and nuclear war broke out, it was estimated that 100 million people each would have died in the United States and the Soviet Union, and millions in Europe. US Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara testified to these figures before Congress in 1964, but did not include the consequences of nuclear war in Asia.

 

According to the United States Nuclear War Integration Plan (SIOP 62) issued in September 1961, in the event of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, the United States would automatically attack China's nuclear weapons facilities, major military bases, and political strongholds. Therefore, if a nuclear war broke out during the Cuban Missile Crisis, it is possible to predict that the United States would have conducted a nuclear attack against communist countries in East Asia such as China and North Korea, and at least 100 million additional deaths would have occurred. Cuban Missile Crisis – The Most Dangerous Moment of the Cold War”)

 

As North Korea's denuclearization becomes difficult in reality, there are again voices calling for a "redeployment" of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. It is argued that the “balance of fear” can at least guarantee our safety. However, in fact, since January 1958, U.S. tactical nuclear weapons have been “deployed” on the Korean Peninsula. At one time, more than 900 tactical nuclear weapons were deployed in South Korea, and possessed and operated a significant number of tactical nuclear weapons until 

September 27, 1991: President George Bush announces the unilateral withdrawal of all naval and land-based tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Korea.

 

At a time when military tensions between the US and the Soviet Union were at their peak, Pope St. John XXIII said, “We must understand the principle that peace is not achieved through a balance of weapons of war, but true peace is established through mutual trust.” It is not only possible, but in fact, it is the cry of right reason, which is highly desirable and will bring higher benefits to man.”

 

 It should be remembered that there was a fear of nuclear war even when the United States and the Soviet Union each possessed tens of thousands of nuclear weapons, and the threat of war continued even when nearly 1,000 tactical nuclear weapons were deployed in South Korea. Let's pray together so that believers who believe in the peace of Christ can overcome the so called realism of 'peace' through weapons. 

Making Life Easier for those with Disiblities

The UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a human rights convention of the United Nations to protect the rights of persons with disabilities across all spheres of life. The Convention has been acceded to and ratified by 177 countries worldwide (January 2019). In Korea, the Convention entered into force in January 2019 after ratification by the National Assembly in December 2008."

The following summary was listed in the Catholic Peace Weekly's pastoral ministry column by a priest member of the bishops' committee on welfare.  
 
The important contents of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities list:  First, the disabled should not be discriminated against. Second, the diversity of the disabled should be recognized. (Disability type) Third, it guarantees the freedom of the disabled to choose for themselves. Fourth, they must be protected by the state. Fifth is the need to live an integrated life within the community. (Consideration in satisfying the needs required)

Among the facilities for the disabled in the country, those for the developmentally disabled account for 80%. Other facilities include visual, hearing, and physical disabilities. Wherever you go in Europe, the physically handicapped are treated just like everybody else. They are free to express their intention and there is no problem with social activities. If you look at any of the country's facilities, you can see that they consist of facilities for those with developmental disabilities.

The reality facing people with developmental disabilities in Korea is very urgent. Of the total developmental disabilities, only about 10% are in a facility, and the remaining 90% are staying at home. Some people have mild disabilities, and others have severe disabilities, the parents of the most severely disabled are in desperate straits.

As in Europe the diversity of choice is not present and the fewness of facilities makes the problems difficult to overcome and this needs to be acknowledged. Nevertheless, elderly parents are worried. Also, the judgment of a legal guardian is very important because after the death of the parents they will be making the choices. The writer believes that the standards of judgment of doctors such as in Europe are important. That's because it's the basis for how people with disabilities can receive various services.

We must recognize the diversity of disabled people and not deprive them of the right to choose for themselves, as suggested by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The state will have to exclude third-party groups and gather the families with developmental disabilities and help them to pool their wisdom to solve this problem. Europe's welfare system was not implemented overnight.

Food Crisis And The World Day of the Poor

 

 

In the Sunday Chat column of the Catholic Times, the writer gives the readers some of his thoughts on the World Day of the Poor.   

This year we had a 'summer-like' spring and the 'hot and rainy' autumn is passing quickly. The 54-day rainy season in 2020 was the longest since meteorological observations have been made. In August of this year, there was a record 'heavy rain', not a 'heat wave'. Before that in March wildfires in the country burned an area that was half of Seoul. This was a climate disaster in which the worst 'winter drought' and 'strong wind' that we hadn't seen in 50 years overlapped. It all happened in Korea.
 

The change in the weather is the result of climate change, that is, the earth’s temperature has risen. However, the consequences are even more frightening. In Pakistan, heat waves in 2015 and torrential rains in 2022 killed more than 2,000 people each. Wildfires in North America, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Australia, and Siberia in 2021 emitted 6.45 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. Indonesia has announced plans to relocate its capital Jakarta to a safer area. The low-lying seaside deltas, the breadbaskets of Bangladesh and Vietnam, have abandoned rice cultivation due to high salinity levels. The disappearance of honeybees in Korea earlier this year foresees the collapse of the ecosystem. It was also attributed to the insecticide used, but there is an opinion that pollinating insects have not adapted to the flowering period due to the high (winter) temperature. Climate change is itself a result and a cause, heralding other unprecedented catastrophes.

At this point, the world has come together to make a promise. Korea has declared that it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from oil and coal is the only way to achieve this goal. The next non-energy sector is methane and nitrous oxide which need to be reduced. This mostly occurs in the agricultural and livestock industry. However, due to droughts, wildfires, and floods, agricultural land around the world is shrinking and being replaced with renewable energy projects. Is this a good thing that farmland is shrinking?
 
It is said that Korea, which has only a 20% grain self-sufficiency rate and 46% food self-sufficiency rate, spends 40 trillion won every year on importing agri-food. If Europe, Russia, the United States, Australia, Vietnam, and Thailand, the major grain producers—wheat, corn, soybean, and rice—control production and adjust prices, it means that the food supply can cause a national crisis. In fact, international food prices hit all-time highs due to the Ukraine-Russian War in 2022, record droughts in the US and Midwest Canada, rising energy prices, and the coronavirus economic crisis. New greed at the national level is also beginning to make an appearance.
 
That is why Pope Francis made the 33rd Sunday of the year the  World Day of the Poor. In fact, it is estimated that 193 million people in 53 countries suffer from "acute food insecurity". it is necessary to warn and prepare for a food crisis from the perspective of one's own country. But before that, Catholics must start small actions for the world's poor, the 'family' living in the common home.