Thursday, December 15, 2022

The Yellow Envelope Law

  Group of People, Unity Communication Concept Royalty Free Stock Photos

We are coming to the end of the year. The Catholic Peace Weekly in the Eyes of the Clergy column, the writer introduces the readers to The Yellow Envelope Act.             

This year like many others was eventful. The presidential election in which the country seemed to be split in two, the Itaewon Tragedy on October 29 where the country has many questions for the citizens, and the Qatar World Cup all moments were a cross between sadness and joy. It's 2022, and it has been running out of breath, but there is something the writer wants to solve before welcoming the New Year.

In 2014, there was a strike at Ssangyong Motor. The company and the police filed a lawsuit against the workers who led the strike for damages of 4.7 billion won, claiming that the strike was illegal. Then, a citizen put money in a yellow envelope and sent it to the press, saying it would help with the damages. As this fact became known, a nationwide donation-raising campaign was launched to collect money in yellow envelopes. In this way, the yellow envelope becomes a symbol of solidarity with striking workers and resistance to the power that oppresses labor rights.

Post-strike damages are awarded for illegal strikes. The problem is that the scope of illegality is too wide. In the meantime, no matter how much the subcontract workers want to negotiate, the prime contractor, the “real boss,” ignores them. If subcontract workers are forced to file a dispute, the subcontract's 'fake boss' imposes a huge amount of damages by attaching an 'illegal label'. It is using civil law to effectively block union activities. Korea is the only OECD country that imposes civil liability on strikes guaranteed by the Constitution.

Workers hit by the damaged bomb become social cripples. Becoming a credit delinquent, opening a smartphone, or opening a bank account is not easy. Even if you resign from the company, the responsibility for compensation remains the same, which can lead to family disintegration.  To strike like this, you have to risk your life. In the meantime, the worker's right to bargain and the right to collective action, guaranteed by the Constitution, were practically blocked.

The fear of the compensation bomb was present this year as well. Some people worked for a full month and received a minimum hourly wage of 2.3 million won. These are Daewoo Shipbuilding subcontractors. Saying that they cannot live like this, they asked for a raise of 100,000 won and locked themselves in a steel structure. As a result, they received 47 billion won for damages caused by the strike. It is money that can be paid back after 163 years of work with increased wages.
 

So this time, the labor world and the opposition party are trying to amend Article 2 of the Union Act to negotiate with the 'real boss' and Article 3 of the Union Act to increase the scope of legal strikes and regulate compensation for damages. It is to ensure that workers negotiate with the real boss. In addition, it tries to guarantee workers' right to strike by regulating excessive compensation for damages. Revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Union Act are nicknamed the "legislation of the Yellow Envelope Act," following the spirit of the Yellow Envelope Movement in 2014.

However, the business world, the government, and the ruling party strongly oppose the Yellow Envelope Act. They say that if the Yellow Envelope Act is passed, strikes will increase and adversely affect the economy. It is said to be an unconstitutional idea as it violates the freedom of business management and private property rights.
 

Excessive working hours is a notorious problem internationally. Fatigue causes many accidents and serious health problems. So if a worker shouts out that he wants to live together with other workers, a bomb for damages falls on workers as illegal. The social doctrine recognizes the legitimacy of strikes that do not go against the common good. However, it seems that the world is still not acknowledging this reality. In the new year, he hopes it will be a world where workers will confidently be able to express their opinion.


Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Catholicism and Youth

 Jumping in Sun Rays Stock Photo


 

 

In the Catholic Times' Eyes of Believer Column, a pastor expresses his concern for the young people in his parish, a concern both for society and the Church in these changing times.


It has been 10 months since he became a pastor of a new city parish. He will carry out various pastoral duties as in the past, but in this new community with many single-person households, he cannot overlook the pastoral work with the youth outside the parish. In recent years, the area has become a government youth housing promotion district, and many young people continue to locate it here; food places such as restaurants, cafes, bars, and convenience stores for young people have appeared and crowded with young people in the evening. 


On the other hand, believers come and go in the parish church before and after the two Masses on weekdays, at other times, the rest of the space except for the office is usually empty with the lights off. Outside the parish, the space young people like to visit is cramped and they have to pay for it. Most of those spaces are bars, karaoke rooms, and billiard rooms. If you go there, you can rest comfortably, drink coffee, you can read or take out a book, if you are hungry, eat and drink a cup of noodles or eat bread as you like, but would it not be wonderful if you could heal your mind when lonely and depressed, and have a room for counseling as well.


Since his thoughts have gone this far he mentions that the parish and the Korea Catholic Culture Research Institute jointly held a seminar on pastoral measures for single-person households on November 20th. To prepare for this seminar, a survey was conducted targeting young people from single households living in the area of the parish. 253 young people in their 20s and 30s living alone were surveyed with difficulty. 

 

As a result of the survey, what they expected from the parish was answered: emotional support programs, spaces for gatherings, human resource programs, economic support for self-reliance, support facilities such as restaurants, and spaces for study and reading.  


Specific programs, they would be willing to participate in were housing-related, emotional support, social dinings such as cooking, social network formation, and book clubs. Now, through the seminar, the cause and feasibility of using the church space as a cultural space for young single-person households in the community have been established. What needs to be done in the future is to change the first-floor restroom into a cultural space in consultation with the parishioners, and to offset the potential rejection of non-believers who come and go from outside. Of course, it is not possible to carry out youth pastoral work with everything perfect from the beginning, and we must have a heart that starts with small caring that connects with others.


Recently, the phenomenon of no religion among young people is accelerating. In 2021, the percentage of believers in their 20s and 30s was 25.7%, the lowest ever. The biggest decrease in the total number of believers is in the young. It is difficult for parish youth organizations to survive due to a lack of active members. Furthermore, it is said that many young people have left the church because of the vertical and authoritative parish atmosphere. There will be a lack of understanding of the MZ generation. Nevertheless, the youth center 'Epiphania', which recently opened in one of the dioceses is becoming a popular place for young people. It is usually a resting place for young people, but it is also a pastoral space where Masses, counseling, and confessions are held. As it is located in a building on a street with restaurants and shopping centers, it is attracting attention as a second pastoral place beyond the parish.


Unlike the youth center 'Epiphania', the youth cultural space of his parish is not a pastoral space, but rather a space of care for young people in single households. In addition, a space where young people create independently and voluntarily. Of course, the youth cultural space is for young people, but it should not be an exclusive space for them, but a space for generational communication where they can mingle with other generations, especially the existing members of the parish. Dreaming of a parish that will be transformed in the new year, and waiting in hope to see it realized.


 

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Community Breakdown and Suicide-

우울증, 목소리, 자기 비판, 비평가, 아래에, 감정적 인, 비판, 좌석

The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday— Rejoice— The Catholic Peace Weekly has an article on the suicide of the young and a message we need to hear.

Young people in their 20s and 30s who were worried about the extreme choice— suicide—confessed they actually wanted to live, looking back on the painful past. Restoring the dignity of human life and protecting human rights are the priorities of the church and society.  

Experts on the subject see the rapidly increasing youth suicide rate as a social problem. One professor cited three major factors for suicide. First of all, it is the absence of means to make the pain bearable. This plays the role of arousing the young person going through a difficult situation to turn his attention away from the extreme choice. It can be the joy of travel or hobbies, or even creating another stress through work. In general, it is an easy way to access it, but it is difficult for young people who do not have enough money and are not employed. The second is the breakdown of the community. The role played in the community and the responsibility that comes from it are important factors in removing suicidal behavior. Today, when collective solidarity is weakening with the nuclear families and individualism, this is bound to collapse. Finally, it is a biased suicide prevention policy. Current prevention policies are focused on the high-risk group for suicide. We need to think of a broader approach.
 
Another Social Welfare Professor (former director of the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center) also said: “There are various causes of youth suicide, such as economic difficulties, family disintegration, loneliness, and instability in employment, housing, and relationships. It is wrong to see it only as a personal issue.” At the same time, he said: "It is important to provide the minimum conditions necessary for human life.  We need to think together about the needs of young people and come up with measures or policies to prevent suicide."
 
Youth suicide is not a problem unique to Korea. Domestic and foreign experts who attended the 2022 Suicide Prevention Humanities Open Forum hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Respect for Life and Hope Foundation last October diagnosed the youth suicide problem facing our society and sought better prevention methods.
 
A representative from Japan, introduced the national  prevention measures while conveying the current status of Japan's youth suicide rate, which is similar to Korea's. He is working on suicide prevention with the government at the non-profit organization Lifelink, a suicide countermeasure support center.
 

Lifelink is conducting social media counseling for those who are contemplating extreme choices. This is similar to Korea, but there is a difference in linking government departments, institutions, organizations, and experts according to the circumstances of those needing help. Awareness-raising activities are provided.  “We are trying to spread the best practices by showing young people how to overcome crises through popular media such as animation, movies, and dramas.” It is to show that there is an option other than death. It is also important to provide relevant education to minors because prevention policies become less effective as they age. The purpose is to provide information on how to request SOS for mental illness in advance so that people can respond to crises that come after they become young adults.
 
 It was made clear that religion can also be a powerful force in preventing extreme choice problems for all age groups. One professor said: “Seeing that the suicide rate was lower than now even during the IMF period, when all fields such as economy, society, and culture were stagnant, it is questionable whether the intensity of suffering affects the extreme choice. We need to expand the collective approach.”

The core of the collective approach is community. This means that the sense of oppression that comes from collective behavior, such as social customs and rules, is quite effective in suppressing extreme behavior patterns.“The rural community, which was the center of gravity in the past, has long since collapsed in our country and has already reached a state where it cannot be restored. The alternative that can restore it is religion,” he said. In particular, the orientation of ‘Catholicism’, which means universality, can play a significant role in reducing the overall suicide rate. The professor cites the fact that “the suicide rate in countries such as South America where Catholicism was the traditional belief that emphasizes the value of the group is significantly lower than in countries that do not.” When considering this reality it tells us that solidarity from religion has a greater impact than the degree of suffering.
 

Friday, December 9, 2022

Descending Love—Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love Word Cloud Stock Photo

Descending Love—What is it? The columnist in the Peace Column of the Catholic Peace Weekly gives us his answer.

“Where did you go for Chuseok?” “Go? where am I to go?” “Then, has someone come to visit?” “Who is coming? I am always alone like this.” “That's why we came.” "Yes, thank you."

When the columnist first visited the elderly man after the holiday, he wondered whether his words in confirming the elder's loneliness were proper. He smiled but his heart sank at the plight of an elderly man living his remaining years alone with no one around.

The slope they had to climb even for the visitors was not without effort. The elderly live in single rooms along the road. In summer, typhoons and heavy rain come, but whatever the weather the hunger of the elderly remains. They go up and down the slope in the rain carrying a backpack with side dishes, but their whole body is wet as if they had just taken a shower. Still, the mind is able to overcome the body. "It must have been hard coming up the hill on this rainy day, thank you.” Hearing these words, the breath becomes easier and the legs feel stronger.

There are people who are not alone because they have a family. But life doesn't seem to be made any better. A grandmother who takes care of her son in a single room after her daughter-in-law and grandson leave, her son has severe diabetes; a grandmother who raises a disabled grandson left behind by her daughter; a grandmother who takes care of a son with intellectual disabilities who is overweight, and yet proud of her child living in a room full of cockroaches. His heart aches and pains just from looking over the list of those he meets. Such people are common in neighborhoods where many needy adults live.
 
"Anybody home? he has brought something to eat.” Whether it's because he's deaf and can't hear, or because his knees and back make it hard to stand up, there's no answer even after knocking for some time. Every time that happens, his heart breaks. After some time he hears some movement within and an elderly person crawls to open the door. The dark room is full of moisture, so much so that it's a luxury to let light and air enter. Even though it stinks, he boasts. “My son is a doctor."

He wonders if even this should be called descending love, but the love of parents for children is like that. In this section of the district, those who are able to take care of their bodily needs he believes are free and happy persons. There are those in this situation who cling to their life with great tenacity. He is anxious seeing the effort it will take over 80 living alone, but life without children is even more difficult. The life of a mother who is satisfied with being able to put even a spoonful of rice into her child's mouth continues.

When I hear the stories of young people complaining that they cannot communicate with their parents, it is truly a pity for the parents of our generation who cannot change and have to live in the past. So, I ask young people— “No matter how unpleasant the conversation may be, always start with the thought: “I know that my parents love me.” It would be nice if you could acknowledge your parents’ love and have a conversation with them.” Of course, I understand how hard it is to have a conversation with parents who talk nonsense in this day and age, but I have no choice but to say this seeing a lot of desperate Descending Love.

Life is given by God. We receive that life into our bodies through our parents. In the same way, God's love is endless love. Even if God gives so much love, sinful people don't know that. They blame God for not listening to their prayers, as if making a conditional bargain. The good is to my credit, and bad because God did not give it to me. Every time he confesses, he confesses the same things and commits them again. He readily falls into temptation even though he knows it is clearly a sin. Even though the sins we commit are many and the reason for the cross, we still don't know what we're doing wrong. And yet this Descending Love of God is the greatest of all loves.
 

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

The Church's Concern for the World

돌, 사랑, 꿈, 희망, 모래, 감정, 장식, 느낌, 희망, 희망, 희망

Even if the world is harsh and difficult, the church should be able to hold the hands of the people of the world and share in their difficulties.
 
In the Catholic Times Weekly Light of the World column, the priest columnist begins with the words of some of his colleagues.
 
Father 1:There are no youths or young adults in our church.
 
Father 2: Yes, that is true in our parish also. The house prices in Seoul are too expensive, and many young people move to the outskirts.

Father 3: The children's situation is more serious. It is rare for students to move from elementary school to another middle and high school because of the difficult entrance exams. Middle and high school students have difficulty making friends and consequently do not come to the young people's Mass.
 
Father 4: The role of adults is important. To provide a fundamental alternative, a shift in awareness and pastoral efforts to welcome them are needed.
 
Father 5: There are many young people from single-person households living alone. These are those who have a difficult life and have a hard time coming to the church. It is also necessary to extend pastoral care to visit them.
 
Father 6: Even though they can't come to church, many yearn for spirituality, fellowship, and relationships.
 
Father 7: We must be friends with them.
 
The streets of Myeong-dong in Seoul are very lively at the end of the year. Many enjoy the time with family and friends at the cathedral preparing for Christmas, the sound of carols and laughter, and gatherings with loved ones. Although the end of the year is regrettable, its warmth gives us comfort and courage toward the new day.
 
However, contrary to appearances, society does not seem to be very healthy. The reasons for this are extreme competition, the difficulty of making a livelihood, growing bitterness of individual self-reliance, and forced isolation and alienation. This eventually results in a loss of social networks and trust, and a high suicide rate (13,195 per year in 2020, 36.15 per day). But is the community of faith really safe?
 
Nature of crisis: There may be many differences, but the rapid decline in youth and young believers in their 20s and 30s in any church is a serious pastoral issue.
 
There are external factors such as the aging population, decreasing population, and harsh livelihood, but internal factors such as neglect of religious education and unfaithfulness to faith coexist in contrast to excellent material growth. However, this is not a problem confined to a particular generation. It is also not just a matter of simple headcount increase or decrease. Because it raises concerns about the identity of the faith community.
 
Is the joy, vitality, and spiritual power of the gospel weakening in the church, which should be the salt and light of the world? Even though the world is harsh and difficult, can the church hold the hands of the people of the world and be with them in their difficulties? Could this be the nature of the crisis?
 
The mystery of the incarnation of the Lord who came to be a friend: Do you have a dear and grateful friend? Thanks to such a friend, I am strengthened even when it's hard. The Lord, who is love, also regards us as friends (John 15:15). All the difficulties in the world today stem from the failure of not trying to be friends with others. Being a friend who shares love and hope, away from the temptation of material goods and comfort, is the Christian life that testifies to the mystery of the incarnation and the power of faith that heals the world.
 
 "Man is open to everyone in the world. It is because a man understands himself only when he can say ‘I’ to you. In such a case, the human person moves out of himself, out of the self-centered attitude of caring only for his own life, and enters into a relationship of dialogue and communion with others" (Summary Social Doctrine, 130).
 

Monday, December 5, 2022

The New Golden Calf

 Free stock photo of activist, climate, climate activist Stock Photo

In the diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Times a member of the Carbon Neutrality Commission gives the readers an update of what is happening in this area of life.

The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. About 40,000 people attended the general assembly, including heads of state and delegations from 80 countries, including US President Biden, French President Macron, and German Chancellor Schultz. A number of people from Korea also attended. 
 
One thing that stands out at this year's conference is that the word "Justice" appeared a lot. In particular, it was the first time he saw a demonstration demanding "responsibility and compensation" from developed countries take place within the boundaries of the conference hall. Now, 'climate change' is evolving from 'climate crisis' to 'climate justice'.
 
In order to fundamentally reduce meteorological disasters, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although 30 years have passed since the adoption of the Climate Change Convention, mankind has still not succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Global greenhouse gas emissions, which were 38 billion tons in 1990, increased more than 1.5 times to 59 billion tons as of 2019. Korea's greenhouse gas emissions increased more, increasing 2.4 times from 300 million tons in 1990 to 700 million tons in 2019. As a result, the world is suffering from the worst heatwave and longest wildfire situation. Korea also suffered great damage from unprecedented heavy rain in Seoul in early August, and in Pakistan, more than 1,700 people died as a result of a major flood and 1/3 of the country was submerged in water.
 
 In the aftermath of the global meteorological disaster, 'Loss & Damage' was adopted as an official agenda for the first time at this climate change conference. The question is who will pay how much. Developing countries strongly demand immediate and effective countermeasures, saying that they can't stand it any longer, but developed countries, while acknowledging their responsibility for climate change, are afraid that they will be overwhelmed with a huge burden. It is fortunate that the Conference of the Parties concluded two days ahead of its closing and agreed to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to support the most vulnerable countries.
 
The Sinai Peninsula, where the Climate Change Conference was held, is where Moses arrived 3 months after he led the liberated Israelites  from Egypt, and is where the Lord Himself appeared before the Israelites at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19).  While receiving God's commandments on the mountain, the Israelites made an idol, the 'Golden Calf', worshiped it, held sacrifices, and ate, drank, danced, and played in front of it. Moses took the  golden calf, had the idol melted down, pulverized, and mixed with water and gave it to the Israelites to drink (Exodus 32).

As Pope Francis pointed out, what jeopardizes our "common home" is a selfish economic model that pursues the vain fantasy of infinite economic growth (「Our Mother Earth」 2020), that is the modern version of the 'golden calf'. In order to protect the public good, 'climate', Pope Francis emphasized joint agreement and solidarity in action based on the principles and norms of international law. Developed countries, which have contributed to climate change by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases in the process of economic growth, must step forward.
 
Modern civilized life that only pursues convenience and wastes resources and energy is another 'golden calf' we have  to deal with. Breaking this golden calf requires fundamental changes in our lifestyles, production and consumption, as the Pope emphasized. To do this, we have to bear the burden of inconvenience and moderation and sometimes cost, but it is realistically difficult for ordinary people to bear it. This is why believers who pursue the 'common good' must step forward. Our church and believers must take the lead in protecting Earth, our sister and beautiful mother.
 

Saturday, December 3, 2022

Human Rights Sunday

 Human rights Stock Image

A former journalist, now retired, in the Eyes of the Believer column of the Catholic Times, gives us some thoughts for Human Rights Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent.

Case 1. "I hope that the National Assembly, politicians, and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance will give a clear answer to the desperate cry of people with disabilities who are crawling on the subways and colliding with citizens."
 
This is the voice that the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities used in their demonstrations: 'subway protest on the way to work that has been going on for 11 months. On three subway lines, citizens were late for work because of the protests. The writer couldn't escape these thoughts. "We also sympathize with the plight of the marginalized, but isn’t the reason for the existence of the government and politicians to mediate social conflicts?" Many people must have thought this while enduring great inconvenience.
 
Case 2. "It is very unfortunate that 158 ​​young people lost their lives in the Itaewon disaster. I recently watched a video of a certain priest. At a rally to commemorate them, he was content to insist on identifying the cause of the disaster, preventing a recurrence, and punishing those responsible. He sympathized greatly as he said: ‘There is no neutrality in front of human suffering. But at the end of the speech, when the priest said the president should step down it was too much. The president is elected by the people, whether we like it or not. Isn’t it the principle of democracy to wait until the end of the term of office?" A classmate studying together at the seminary expressed passion mixed with concern.
 
On the occasion of the Second Sunday of Advent, the Catholic Church celebrates Human Rights Sunday and Social Doctrine Week. "What is social doctrine and why is it necessary? Isn’t it enough to be faithful only to God’s Word and religious life in the church?" Surprisingly, many believers feel unfamiliar with the term social doctrine and even say that it has nothing to do with them.
 
The social doctrine is the official teaching of the Church about society and the world: human work, economic life, political community, and environmental protection. In addition, it also deals with human rights, which are the basic rights necessary for human dignity. To put it simply, the first thing the catechumens learn is 'what we believe, and the second is 'what we do.
 
The basis of social doctrine comes from the words of Jesus: "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."(Matthew 25:45). Jesus also demands attention and love for his neighbor who suffered in the Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke (10: 29-37). It is asking us to turn our eyes to society and the world, and not to stay within ourselves and the church. Also, it is to improve non-evangelical and inhumane situations such as moral corruption and violence in our daily lives and to reveal God's love.
 
Korean society and politics are divided into confrontation, conflict, and camp logic, and there is no good day. Would it be enough if we dismissed it as nothing new? In the meantime how should churches, priests, and believers live out and act on social doctrine? "Love represents the greatest social commandment. Love requires the practice of justice, and only love makes it possible for us to practice justice."
 
Pope Francis appeals to the world today for peace, justice, and universal brotherhood. "In the name of the poor, the miserable, the marginalized, and the needy, we declare: God has commanded us to help them. This is the duty of everyone, especially those who have wealth and property” (All Brothers, 285).
 
Instead of being believers who only put words first, let’s each become practitioners of the word of knowledge and conduct.