Difference Between Dialogue and Discussion

The attitude of listening and dialogue requested in the Synod process is 'being more open to the voices of those who think differently from us, as well as those we tend to easily ignore and exclude'. It is difficult to accept that we should listen to those we do not want to talk to. This is the kind of preparation given by the Catholic papers, magazines, and news reports within the teaching Church.

“Strong and well-written phrases can attract consumers’ attention, but they are not enough to lead them to purchase.” We can make people accept the importance of listening, but it seems that some preparation is needed to become a Synod that willingly listens to and talks with even those with whom we have uncomfortable relationships.

Our relationships with others improve through listening. It would be good to gradually learn the skill of listening, but first, listen to other people’s stories with sincerity. When the other person feels that they are sincerely listening to my voice, their attitude toward me changes. At some point, you will feel that the other person’s voice toward you has become softer. Experience the power of listening. Listening is not just hearing what the other person says, but also examining what the other person is trying to convey even though they haven’t expressed it in words, and giving feedback to the other person.

Even if we have something we need, it takes some time and effort to become accustomed to it. For example, people want to lose weight. So they choose extreme weight loss methods, but it seems that they rarely succeed. People who have confidence in weight management by reducing overeating and increasing exercise time regularly seem to be relatively more successful. The same goes for listening. As you accumulate daily experiences of listening, you gain the power to willingly listen to even the most difficult words of the other person.

The article from which these words were taken mentioned a writer who began practicing listening and started a new life by improving his relationships with people around him. He listened to the stories of people around him and responded to them, and could feel his attitude toward himself changing, and the author confesses that this change became the starting point for living his life actively.

Listening is more than just hearing. It requires patience and effort to focus on the other person’s voice. Even if you make an effort to listen, it is difficult to continue listening if the other person shows a wary attitude toward you. Nevertheless, Synod emphasizes conversations of listening that sincerely listen to the other person’s story. Synod’s demand that we listen to the voices of even those we want to ignore and exclude seems unrealistic. However, if the change in relationships that occurs through listening is helpful not only to the other person but also to ourselves, it is definitely worth trying. 

A help in doing this is to remember the difference often heard between dialogue and discussion. Dialogue means using your ears as much as your mouth, asking questions to learn, agreeing with what you can, discovering the similar and common values you have, and expressing emotions to help to understand. Discussion may often mean debate—giving answers, wanting to be right and win over the other, and seeing it as competition and not a means to seek the truth but looking only for the points of conflict and not valuing the other as a person of dignity. 

Let us remember the theme of the Synod— "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission."

Defectors from North Korea

Over the years we heard a lot about defectors from  North Korea to South Korea. Below is a summary of some of the news that the Catholic papers have covered over the recent past on those who have come from the North.

As of 2023, there are approximately 34,000 North Korean defectors who have settled in South Korea. When defectors come to Korea they go to the North Korean Defector Settlement Support Office operated by the Ministry of Unification commonly called Hanawon.

Here, they are introduced to Korean society and are trained for jobs. It is a place all defectors must go, a second home to them. To write this article they met with the Hanawon Director to discuss Hanawon’s work and role, the characteristics of recent North Korean defectors entering the country, and ways to strengthen cooperation with religious organizations to ensure the emotional stability of North Korean defectors.

According to the Ministry of Unification, 196 North Korean defectors entered South Korea last year. This is three times the number in 2021 (63 people) and 2022 (67 people), during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were also two cases of defection by sea, which had not occurred in the previous three years. By gender, women accounted for the majority at 164. In particular, more than half of those entering the country, 99 people, were in their 20s and 30s. 70% of defectors came from the provinces, bordering North Korea and China. 

The Director said: "Recently, more people defected because they dreamed of a better future rather than because of hunger. In the past, the main reasons for defecting were hunger and economic hardship. Then came dissatisfaction with the political system and a yearning for freedom.  However, now the main reasons for defecting have changed to a better future and an improved quality of life, such as children’s education. They want to live in a freer world."

"This change is largely influenced by South Korean broadcasts and TV dramas, K-pop, etc. Many of the people who come to Hanawon now have some knowledge of South Korean society.  Just looking at the fact that North Korea has recently greatly strengthened its laws to crack down on the (Korean Wave), it shows that the yearning for South Korea is growing in North Korean society and that it is becoming a threat to the system."

When North Korean defectors come to South Korea, they are investigated by the National Intelligence Service and then transferred to Hanawon. Here, they receive 12 weeks of adaptation training before entering South Korean society. They learn what is necessary for living in Korea. 

"Defectors think of Hanawon as their second home, they really felt like they were on a picnic. They invited defectors who were physically disabled or financially struggling. Everyone was very touched. Many people said they wanted to hold such events more often."

The director said: "The number of North Korean defectors who entered South Korea in the first half of this year exceeded 100, and although North Korea is increasing sanctions such as border control, he expects the number of people entering this year to increase by about 30% compared to last year."

Religious events play an important role in the Hanawon educational program. The director said: "For North Korean defectors to settle down in society not only material support but also emotional stability is very necessary. Religious events provide psychological and emotional stability to North Korean defectors.  On Sunday mornings, four major religious events are held: Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, and Won-Buddhist."

The director especially praised the Korean family experience event for North Korean defectors in which the Catholic Church participates. Currently, the Catholic Church is holding family experience events in the Suwon Diocese and the Archdiocese of Seoul. "Among our programs, there is one called ‘Family Culture Experience.’ It is designed to enhance the understanding of our culture and market by allowing North Korean defectors to come into contact with ordinary citizens, share feelings, experience real family life, and engage in shopping activities with volunteers. They eat, sleep, and live in (volunteer) homes for one night and two days, and see how each family lives. The Catholic Church proposed this and connects many with (volunteer) homes. It is a significant experience for many North Korean defectors to feel the warmth of our society during the initial settlement process."

The director said, "Many defectors have no ties to South Korea, so they still have a hard time adjusting to society. We will continue to find ways to strengthen cooperation with religious circles."

The Director stated: "I will continue to do my best to help North Korean defectors settle well into Korean society. During the recent North Korean Defectors’ Day event, the president talked about settlement, capacity, and harmony for North Korean defectors. It’s all related to Hanawon. We are providing education related to the initial settlement of North Korean defectors, and we are doing the initial preparation stage to help them get a good job. Lastly, harmony is about being able to leave Hanawon and live better with our people, and education at Hanawon ultimately plays an important role in this as well." 

Defectors are a large group working for the unification of the Country.

Japanese Bishops' Plea For Peace

In the recent Catholic Peace Weekly, a journalist gives the readers the words of the Archbishop of Tokyo, the president of the Japanese Bishops' Conference, and his fears about the direction of the world.

He appealed on the 6th to join the "Synod’s Journey to Find Peace" as the Japanese Church began the "10 Days of Prayer for Peace."  He expressed his reflection on World War II which broke out in 1939 and asked that the world not be allowed to be caught up in the whirlpool of war and violence again.

On July 16 the Archbishop released a message titled “Indifference Takes Lives (無関心) on the website of the Bishops’ Conference of Japan, expressing concern about the “violence” spreading around the world— Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and Myanmar. He lamented, “After World War II, the world swore that ‘we will not repeat evil,’ but looking at the world today, I wonder if this pledge is being kept,” and added, “Once (violence) begins, there is no end.”

Archbishop Kikuchi especially noted the phenomenon of ‘human alienation’ that has spread behind technological development, saying, “Along with the spread of artificial intelligence (AI), a ‘globalization of indifference’ is in progress.” Archbishop Kikuchi emphasized; in today’s society, everyone seems to be treated as isolated ‘somethings’ on screens. However, in reality, our brothers and sisters are being deprived of life.” He added, “It is humans who create violence, and it is our indifference that fuels it.”

Archbishop Kikuchi prayed that the upcoming Jubilee of 2025 would be the starting point for the ‘Synod for Peace.’ Archbishop Kikuchi said, “Pope Francis is asking us to walk a synodal journey path, accompanying our most vulnerable brothers and sisters,” adding, “We must remember that only we can stop the violence against life that we have witnessed countless times, and in the depths of despair, the Church must be a pilgrim of hope.”

The Japanese Church has been praying the “10 Days of Prayer for Peace” every August since 1982. This is a time to remember the ‘original sin’ of the past and pledge to participate in actions to protect peace, following the teaching of Pope John Paul II in Hiroshima, Japan in 1981 that “to remember the past is to participate in the future.” During this period, Japanese churches held peace prayer masses, prayer meetings, lectures, and seminars to raise awareness of peace and justice.

Everyone is Destined to Die

In the Catholic Peace Weekly a reporter introduces us to an article from Church Unity and Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops' Conference on— Is Reincarnation Real—

“Everyone is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Stories about ‘reincarnation’ that appear in movies and novels are influenced by the New Age movement, which seeks to understand death as a process of being reborn as a new life beyond biological separation.

The New Age movement does not recognize the finiteness of humans. Simply expressed it rejects biblical monotheism in favor of monism or pantheism.  Christianity has firmly rejected these teachings since ancient times. In addition, modern reincarnation theory arbitrarily interprets the Buddhist idea of ​​reincarnation. While Buddhist reincarnation teaches that humans must attain enlightenment and escape the cycle of life and death, which is like a wheel of suffering, modern reincarnation theory insists on an endless cycle of life.

Christians do not believe in reincarnation. Humans are born into this world with the gift of one life from God, and after ending their earthly life through death, and the journey to reach God, who is eternal life. Some people try to justify reincarnation by arguing that a “resurrection battle” is necessary for those who have ended their lives in misfortune. However, humans can never be freed from evil and contradiction by their own power alone. True salvation for humans is given only through forgiveness, peace, and eternal life given by the just God.

Can we be punished or suffer if we serve our ancestors poorly?

“Those who have shown abundant love, endured suffering, and left behind an example of innocence and truth give strength to others. This is the reality of the “redemption” that is the basis of all the mysteries of Christ. Christ’s abundant and overflowing love saves us all.” (Mystery of the Incarnation, No. 10)

The idea that if we serve our deceased ancestors well, our descendants will receive great blessings, and if we serve them poorly, we will suffer misfortune is widely spread among the public. The Confucian belief that “serve the dead as you serve the living” (事死如事生) is connected to the idea of ​​gratitude which has a great influence on our folk beliefs.

Recently, the false belief in “family healing” has been spreading. The belief in family healing, which says that if there are ancestors in the family who committed great sins or died with resentment, the well-being of descendants cannot be guaranteed, so many gifts and prayers should be offered for them, is the result of distorting the idea of ​​filial piety and respect for ancestors within the Christian framework. 

Christians believe that all the dead are in the arms of God and can hope for God’s mercy. Also, Christians who believe in the “Communion of Saints” believe that the souls of the deceased receive the necessary help through the intercession of all saints and the prayers of the entire Christian community, beyond the family circle.

Where should the graves of the deceased be located?

“The Church offers the children of grace to the Father in Christ, and buries in the ground the seeds of the flesh that will rise again in glory.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1683)

'Feng Shui' (Chinese geomancy, is a traditional practice that originated in Ancient China and claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment) It is the study of good land to block the cold winds of winter and obtain water for farming. Feng Shui, which developed based on the theory of yin and yang and the five elements, closely connects the natural environment with human life and determines human fortunes and misfortunes based on geographical conditions. They have good places to live  not only to the house where they live extends to  the grave site, where the dead are buried.

The folk belief that descendants will be blessed if  they bury their deceased ancestors in a comfortable place arose when 'Feng Shui', which has a long history in our people, met with the Confucian idea of ​​filial piety. In the late Joseon Dynasty, there was a great obsession with good burial sites, to the point that there were constant disputes between families trying to secure good burial sites.

The attitude of valuing ancestral burial sites is a unique religious nature of ours that stems from filial piety to place ancestors in a comfortable place. However, the obsession with good burial sites because of the good or bad fortune of descendants can obscure the true meaning of filial piety and respect for ancestors and can become a worldly desire of descendants. Furthermore, this does not conform to the Christian faith.

When a person dies, he or she goes before God hoping to enjoy eternal life. Therefore, entrusting the dead to God’s mercy and praying for them is the attitude of a true believer.

All Works Together for the Good!

 Since Korea has lived within the Chinese Cultural Sphere, Chinese character words are well known in the citizens' daily lives. They often use four-character idioms or idioms derived from historical events with four syllables. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in these idioms at job interviews or college entrance exams. A priest who writes regularly for the Catholic Times gives the readers a look into a few of these maxims and uses a story from the Bible to illustrate one of the better-known maxims— 'saeongjima' (塞翁之馬) which means that fortunes and misfortune are difficult to predict because life changes so often.

The good things are often mixed— the fly in the ointment— (好事多魔), and disasters are changed to good things— Blessings in Disguise(轉禍為福) are the words used frequently. It is often said that life is a changeable and unpredictable phenomenon. He goes into detail with (塞翁之馬) and exemplifies it with the life of Joseph of the Old Testament. We have our own 'Felix Culpa' (Happy Fault) from the Easter Saturday Liturgy at the Exultet.

(塞翁之馬)

An old man had a horse — the horse represented all his assets and very valuable to him. One day, the horse ran away, and all the villages expressed their sorrow for the loss, he however,  simply answered: “Who knows whether that is good or bad?" Some weeks later the horse returned, bringing with him another horse, and thereby doubling the riches of the old man. The villages rejoiced for the old man, but he cautioned: “Yes, this is good, but sometimes bad comes with good.”

Afterward, the man’s only son tried to ride the new horse and was thrown from it, breaking his leg. Once again the villages commiserated with him, but the Old Man was calm and reminded them that even in a turn of bad luck, there may be the seeds for good. Within a few weeks, a regional war began which included his village, and all the able-bodied young men were drafted, and many were killed in the conflict. But, because he had a broken leg, the son of the old man was spared being drafted, and recuperated at home, safe from the war.

There is much that will happen to us throughout our lives.  Almost everything that might happen to us has seeds both for good and bad within it. It is up to us to see those seeds for what they are: opportunities, in the case of good things, and warnings and lessons, in the case of the bad.

Truly we must appreciate all the good in our lives, but we must also seek out the deeper truths that might be warning to us of the less desirable things that may come our way and be prepared.

Conversely, in the bad which will be part of our lives, there is a path outwards that leads to the good — and that path many times brings us to a good much greater than the “bad” experienced.

The columnist thinks the character in the Bible that fits these idioms well is Jacob's son, Joseph. In a word, he lived a life full of dramatic twists and turns. Jacob openly favored Joseph, born from his relationship with Rachel, whom he loved. Naturally, the other sons were jealous of Joseph and hated him. The result of monopolizing their father's love eventually became a cause of pain and suffering for Joseph.

One day, the other brothers took the opportunity to sell Joseph into slavery to Egypt. However, it worked out well for Joseph, and he eventually became the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph’s brothers came down to Egypt to seek food because of the famine, and when they were questioned as spies, they met Joseph again, but they did not recognize him. When his brothers finally returned home and brought Benjamin with them, Joseph confessed everything, hugged them all, and cried and reconciled. His life journey was like riding a roller coaster. But it all ended well.

Joseph never got disappointed or blamed God at any point, but kept his faith. Joseph realized that no matter how well a person plans, it is God who accomplishes it. The strength that sustained him through the hardships and despair he experienced in his life was his faith. That faith was a great legacy inherited from his ancestors. When we look at the lives of believers, many elements cannot be called coincidences. God is the one who plans and leads our lives. God uses hardships, failures, and even sins to produce good fruit. If we learn from Joseph’s faith, we can see that if we keep our faith in God without being overjoyed or depressed, we will eventually produce good fruit.

In all situations, no matter what pain or difficulty comes, we must not let go of our faith in God. 

World Youth Day in Seoul Korea 2027

The  Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation, a radio & television network of South Korea recently had an interview with Father Yang Ju-yeol / Secretary General of the 2027  Korea World  Youth Day. Below is a summarized translation of the interview.

They had some difficulting inviting someone so busy in preparation for the Seoul World Youth Day, just three years away. The interviewer:  

▷Hello Father! The inauguration ceremony and inaugural Mass have come to a successful conclusion. Let's hear your thoughts on the event.

▶The inauguration ceremony and inaugural Mass were held at the Myeongdong Cathedral, in Seoul, three years before the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day. We invite and welcome young people from all over the world.  Let's prepare for World Youth Day together.  It's an opportunity to start preparing for the 2027 World Youth Day in earnest, with a message of hope for the youth, the Korean church, Korean society, and the entire world.

▷ It seemed like the priest was welcoming everybody with open arms. Those who have been watching CPBC News Plus regularly will probably know about World Youth Day, but there are definitely some who still feel unfamiliar with it. It is abbreviated in English as WYD. Could you explain in detail what kind of event it is?

▶ The abbreviation for World Youth Day is WYD— World Youth Day is celebrated every year on Christ the King Sunday on the Diocesan National level. However,  St. John Paul II since 1986, once every two to three years, the Pope invites young people from all over the world to a specific region for a World Youth Day. The 41st World Youth Day will be held in Seoul in 2027.

▷ Since World Youth Day has been celebrated since 1986, it can be said to be a very historic day. Among them, you mentioned that the 2027 Seoul WYD, which will be held in Seoul, is the 41st. So, how should we understand the meaning of the 2027 Seoul WYD?

▶ If I were to sum up World Youth Day in one word, it would be a ‘festival of encounters.’ An encounter is someone meeting someone else, and in particular, the Pope and young people meet. And young people meet young people. And young people meet the church community. And in this encounter, experiencing the living Holy Spirit who is active, and meeting God is the opportunity for World Youth Day. As I have mentioned many times, the World Youth Day held in Seoul is the first World Youth Day to be held in a non-Christian culture. So it has a very missionary meaning. I think it will be a good opportunity to think again about how the love of God proclaimed through Jesus Christ has meaning in a non-Christian culture and how people can understand it. When we talk about missionary meaning, it usually gives off a feeling of conquest or aggressiveness. However, when we talk about evangelization here, we can say that the meaning of the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day is to provide an opportunity for young people and the Pope to meet and discuss how we can live together in peace in the merciful love of God who created this world for the good of all, and to create a new world — a new world for young people to live in.

▷Listening to the priest's words, I think we can interpret it this way: we meet the Lord when we face each other.

▶Yes, that's right.

▷In particular, the fact that the Seoul WYD is being held in a non-Christian culture feels special. Can we assume that the theme of the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day will be announced soon?

▶Yes, that's right. Because the previous World Youth Day was held in Lisbon in 2023. However, the 2027 World Youth Day is the first to be held between World Youth Days, which is also a special feature of the 2027 World Youth Day. Therefore, two themes were announced around the Jubilee. As we live this year, 2024, the theme for 2024 is ‘Rejoice in Hope.’ The theme for 2025 is ‘Those who put their hope in the Lord walk tirelessly.’ In 2025, we will face the Jubilee of the Youth, and the theme of this Jubilee is also ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ However, I think that the Pope will soon announce the theme for 2027, beyond the theme of hope.

▷ I am very excited about what the theme will be, and I am hopeful here as well. Finally, is there anything you would like to say to the faithful and the people?

▶Both believers and citizens are complaining about high prices and the difficulties of people’s livelihoods domestically, and at the conference level, they are still experiencing difficulties due to war, nationalism, and powerful leaders. Pope Francis said that the reason poverty exists in the world is not because of a lack of goods, but because of a lack of solidarity. Although asking each person to solve their own difficulties may feel like the reality of each person living for themselves, what we need is a time of meeting to meet, listen to each other’s voices, and talk. In particular, listening to the realities of young people and talking together is the way to prepare for World Youth Day and is also the purpose of World Youth Day. Therefore, everyone can participate while remembering what the needs of young people are, that young people are not living their own lives but living together, and that World Youth Day is a conference where young people are the main characters and the church community works together with them for their growth. There are various ways to participate, such as as a pilgrim, as a homestay family, as a volunteer, and through prayer. I think that showing much interest in World Youth Day and praying especially is the most important way to prepare for the event. I ask for your prayers.

▷ I would like you to pray with me. Today, I spoke with Father Yang Ju-yeol, the head of the Seoul WYD Regional Organizing Committee, who gave us his precious time on this site. Thank you for your words today.

Concern for the Developmentally Disabled

 

In the Diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, the director of a Diocesan Social Welfare Research Institute reminds the readers of society's problems in showing care for the Developmentally Disabled.

On July 10, the Korea Caritas Association and the National Human Rights Commission (HRC) jointly held a public discussion on the “Customized Care Support Plan for the Developmentally Disabled”. This discussion provided an opportunity to examine the progress of various policies targeting the developmentally disabled, including the “Deinstitutionalization and Community Self-Reliance Support Roadmap”  announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2021, and how realistic these policies are for the developmentally disabled who are the target of the policies.

The developmentally disabled are referred to as persons with an intellectual disability (IQ 70 or lower) with below-average intellectual function and autism spectrum disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, difficulty in communication, and limited and repetitive behavior. Through this discussion, the HRC emphasized the specialness of the developmentally disabled. In other words, the main content of the discussion was that various policies for the disabled are still insufficient in many ways to contain the specialness of the developmentally disabled. In particular, it is pointed out that the new direction for the disabled in facilities centered on independent housing, as mentioned in the deinstitutionalization roadmap, may rather cause various side effects.

Among the 2.5 million disabled people in Korea, the proportion of people with developmental disabilities is around 10%, which is not a large proportion, and since it is difficult for them to work on their own, the ‘specialness’ of people with developmental disabilities is not properly reflected in policies for the disabled.

All disabilities have their own specialness. In other words, there are ‘differences’ depending on the type of disability. Among these, the difficulty in communication and the decline in self-protection ability clearly represent the characteristics of people with developmental disabilities. According to the data from the Rights and Interests Commission, 23.9% of people with developmental disabilities have difficulty expressing their own opinions. In addition, the proportion of people who cannot recognize letters is around 30%. 46.2% of people do not recognize disasters or emergency situations on their own, and 55.3% of people are unable to report them to fire stations or police stations on their own.

However, without considering the situation of these people with developmental disabilities, or without recognizing the diversity of disabilities, some of the alternatives are not realistic. In particular, people with developmental disabilities have more difficulty expressing themselves than other people with disabilities. It is difficult for them to assert their rights as members of society, and it is also difficult for them to defend themselves in special situations.  Not considering the special nature of these people with developmental disabilities will be difficult to guarantee a dignified life for them, who are among the socially vulnerable.

The Church traditionally speaks of preferential options for the poor. The practice of love for poorer neighbors shows the identity of the Church. As “those who have no hope for a better future” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, paragraph 182,184), the Church recommends that we approach fundamental problems not only through charitable acts but also from a social and political perspective. 

In this sense, the Church’s concern for people with developmental disabilities and its efforts for them can be said to be an essential mission that the Church must carry out. By becoming an advocate for the severely developmentally disabled, who have difficulty protecting themselves and are at risk of social isolation, even among the disabled, we can light a new spark of hope for those who are in despair.