Religious Matters in New China

Praise for China is rarely heard coming from the Catholic press. A recent exception appeared in a bulletin for priests, praising the country's policy in caring for their citizens who live overseas, while finding plenty to criticize on how they deal with religious matters.

The writer recalls, when he was a child, seeing the school for foreign Chinese in his hometown. Wherever Chinese were living overseas, these schools were setup to help the newly arrived Chinese accommodate to the new culture, and they have been successful, he says, except in Korea.

The schools failed here, he feels--though admitting he's not an authority on the subject--because of the many regulations that made it difficult for foreigners to settle easily within the culture and earn money; the regulations being motivated, it is believed, by the aversion toward foreigners in Korea of the past.

This was especially true in running a business. On the menu signs in front of Chinese restaurants, 'jajangmyeon' (noodles with black  bean sauce) because they could not sell rice. This has all changed today but 20 or 30 years ago the perception of the foreigner was not what it is today.

The China of  today also is not the China of the past. Though he noticed the rigidity of the culture on his trip to China in 1999--a feeling of uneasiness in the air--as soon as he landed at the airport, a recent trip to Beijing convinced him this is no longer true.

In many ways China has come a long way since the middle of the last century. 21st century China is the only country, says the writer, that can vie with the United States for the dominant role in world affairs. China is increasing its influence throughout the world by forgiving the debt of African countries and giving assistance freely. The writer says, reporting on what some people are saying, that if China doesn't  buy part of the national debt of the European Union and the United States, they would be ruined--though he believes this is a bit of an exaggeration. And in 20 or 30 years, many believe that it will be difficult for any country to keep pace with China. But, says the writer, one problem remains: China continues to restrict the free expression of religious belief.

According to their laws, only Chinese can give religious instruction, in effect keeping foreign missioners out of the country. Those that do enter China have to sign that they will not do any missionary work in the country.This paper--signed, sealed and thumb-printed--along with a duplicate copy of the plane ticket and the address of the hotel where they will stay, has to be  given to the consulate. Those without a religious connection are not bothered with this annoying step to get a visa.

The writer strongly believes that if China intends to be a leader in the world, they will have to be more flexible concerning religious liberty, adding that this suggested change is not only motivated by his religious beliefs. Whether or not you accept religion is immaterial, he says, in this case. Religion has been an important element in the history of the world and trying to control it by force is not a sign of a developed country, and even less a sign of a country intent on becoming a major player on the world stage.

The New Comfort Women

What is sexually suggestive is often in the eye of the beholder and yet when music videos are involved, according to the Catholic Times' weekly column on sexuality in the media, there are clear indications that the suggestive material is 'out there', and the entertainment industry is not unaware of this fact. In the Korean pop industry, some of the videos are subtly sexual, some overtly; and the government is trying to do something about it, especially when the participants in the videos are minors.

There have been serious scandals in the industry and more calls for regulating the industry. The Catholic Times' columnist mentions the popular 2009 video, "Mister"--a big hit in Japan--by the Kara Girl Group. To perform their "butt dance" special, he says the five Kara girls prepared for the routine by going on a severe diet regime. And at that time one of the girls was 16 years old.

Scenes of undressing, along with the choreography and lyrics, are enticing males to enter very naturally into the scenes. Typical of the rambling words accompanying the scenes: "Looking pretty good, you catch my eyes slowly, I develop interest toward you, tock, tock, the clock keeps flowing, I keep sending small glimpses toward you, I send small smiles toward you, now look at me, hey, hey, you, you mister, look over here mister, yea, that's right, you, mister, come next to me, mister (la la la la la la)."

The columnist points out that in the video there is a strong hint the sexual act is being performed when the words and actions are put together. He asks, "What is likely to happen after watching such a video? He tells us of the possibilities, including--if only in thought--having  sex with a minor.

He reminds us that Japanese culture has a reputation for toying with the Lolita complex--having sex with the very young. The culture justifies what he believes are the unconscious instincts of Japanese society, and advances and fulfills that desire to win popularity and to  make  money.

When you  reflect on this possibility, says the columnist, the Kara Girl Group can be seen as being cleverly manipulated by the Japanese culture to satisfy the "uncle fans" with their peculiar sexual desires. He concludes that we are exporting, once again, "comfort women" for the pleasure of Japanese males; he feels this assessment is no exaggeration. Historically, this description was applied to Korean women who were forced to serve as prostitutes for Japanese soldiers. It is an issue still not acknowledged by the Japanese. The columnist believes the term can be used to describe what is happening today, though more subtly, in the music video industry.

I Will be of Service

"I am the best." A billion-dollar baby, look at me: words of a   Korean pop song, popular and with  many awards. No doubt the words are said mockingly, but the thinking is  not that  rare, opines a journalist of the Catholic Times. "I am the best" is not the kind of understanding of self the  journalist wants to see influencing the world. Focus on the Ego is not what the world needs. Its opposite, service of the other is what Christianity is all about and without humility, one doesn't  go very far in unfeigned service of the other.

We hear the word service often in society. The politicians use it with the voters: a pledge to be of service to those who vote for them. In the Church, it is a topic frequently brought to our attention: Jesus who bent low to wash the feet of the disciples is the unprecedented  example of service. Service to others  is a concept we do not want to reflect on, for at the end of the day we know the outcome.  

Those served, are the ones who will have the hardest time in serving others. This is true, especially in the vertical Confucian society that we have in Korea. To ask those who are on top to serve those below,  without any self-servicing, is not easy: political leaders in society serving  citizens, parents--children, chairpersons-- members, clergy and religious--laity, seniors -- juniors, those who have-- those who don't. The journalist wonders if the words of our Lord about the camel, and the  eye of a needle  would not be appropriate in these cases.
 
Without being on our guard it is difficult not to serve ourselves. Reflecting on her job and the little authority  she has, she  wonders how easy it is to have it go to one's head. Humility does not come easy, a virtue that we have to work with and ardently desire.

She reminds us of our ancestors in the faith in their struggle against pride and their way of dealing with  it: 'Conquering the Seven'(Chil Geuk). These were the seven virtues used to overcome the seven capital sins: humility, love, patience, alms-giving, moderation, asceticism, and diligence.
 
One of the dioceses,  celebrating their 50th anniversary, has decided to deepen spirituality: "I will be of service." The clergy, religious and lay people are all to be of service to others. This is the duty of the whole Church. Not by words alone but by our actions, and she concludes, when we all bow our heads deeply to the other, the Church community will be what it is meant to be.                                                                                                     

Catholics in the Royal Family

 During the persecution of Catholicism in Korea, many ironic situations developed. One of the most startling was the presence of Catholics in the same royal family that was persecuting the Church. 

The Peace Weekly provides us with a brief glimpse into those years of persecution with its article on the baptism of the grandson and daughter-in-law of Yi Ha-eung, the regent for the next-to-last king, the first Emperor Gojong of Korea. 

Yi Ha-eung was the regent for his son until he reached adulthood. It was during this time that the regent masterminded the last persecution of Christians, during which  many died, including nine French  missionaries.

The 25th King was Choljong whose mother and grandmother were both killed for their Catholicism. Choljong died without any direct bloodline heirs, and the son of Yi  Ha-eung and his wife was selected as the 26th king of Korea. The mother of Gojong was also a secret Catholic. So also was the wet nurse of the 26th king of Korea. Mutel mentions in his diary how he went to the royal place to baptize, confirm and give holy communion to the mother of the king. This excerpt from the diary we blogged back on September 30 and Oct. 1st, 2010: A True Story by Bishop Mutel, Bishop of Seoul 1890.  

The grandson, before he was baptized in 1955,  said to the priest: "My grandfather killed many Catholics and as atonement, I want to become a Catholic."

The reason for the persecution, according to the article, was a weakening Jeoson Dynasty. In  order to strengthen the kingdom, Yi Ha-eung sided with one of the Confucian schools, and made up his mind to put an end to western learning, which did not look favorably on a society ranked by class distinctions.  Though his attempt to eliminate this "foreign scourge" was not successful, it lasted for more than three years of excruciating suffering for the Christians.

 

A number of museums have relics commemorating what occurred during the years of persecution. The Oryundae Korean  Martyrs Museum, in particular--thanks to the grandson of the religious persecutor Daewongun, prince of the great court, and the grandson's wife--have on display many items from the last years of the Jeoson dynasty that allow us to relive that difficult time and to acknowledge what those early Christians had to endure in order to survive.

                                                   

One-of-a-kind--Unique

Four Chinese ideograms are combined in the Korean language to spell out very clearly the English word 'unique,' the one-of-a-kind concept. The columnist of the spiritual page of the Catholic Times reflects on this idea for our spiritual well being.

This one-of-a-kind concept, he says, is shrouded in mystery. Every moment, every place, is unique; it's God's gift to us and is never repeated. But is it not our tendency, he asks, to see most of what we experience--for example, our morning, noon and evening meals--as the same repeatable events, and being satisfied with this common observation? "Why complicate it with God's will?" we might ask ourselves, he says. However, it is necessary for a Christian to understand that the gifts of time and place are also accompanied with God's inspiration and wisdom on what to do with these gifts. Aren't these the content of much of the Bible, and easily discernible in the Beatitudes?

Life should be an obedient concurrence with God's providence, his will for us, which will result, if followed, in mercy toward others, living in harmony with creation, working with what we have been given, and seeing this realized. Though achieving these goals will be slow, the columnist is convinced that little by little we will see them manifest in our life.

This is the way we are programed. Children are very passive in the beginning of their lives but shortly become active. Children in school, those in catechism class, all start with a passive attitude that in time becomes active. Passivity is not something bad but a step to something else. There are times in the catechumenate when the first steps are taken in obedience, and then there often is the critical stage: we are right, others are wrong, putting no restraint on our thoughts. This stage can be superseded by a passive state in which we open ourselves up to  what God wants to give us.

This step is not just following a few things that God wants from me, but  my changing myself completely. To put it differently: it's changing my inflexible faith tendencies to more openness, patience, mellowness, obedience, constancy, sincerity, and the like. It is the way we concur with the will of God and open to the practice of these virtues to a greater degree.

Our life is to be open to this harmony with God's desire for us. It is in this way that every moment of every day has a different meaning given to us by God. Without this thinking, everything becomes routine.

When we live in concurrence with the Will of God all is done in his presence. All is filled with his presence. The tabernacle, the altar, the cross, the fields, the flowering plant, the writing we do, the power switch on our computer, the spoon we hold eating our meals--all is seen in the presence of God and beyond. Through me, God can be made more visible to the world. 

Prayer is done in many Ways.

We all have heard prayer described differently. One of the most useful definitions includes the notion of dialog with God. As we know, dialog can take many forms, and the columnist writing on spirituality for  the Catholic Times introduces us to one of the more unusual forms practiced by a religious brother who spends much of his time in prayer.

The writer, a priest, visited the brother, a friend, at his monastery. On this occasion, he went to the porter's lodge to ask to see his friend. The brother responsible for meeting guests went to the church to tell the brother of his visit. When he came into the reception room, he opened the door slowly, looked in, and when he saw his friend, he greeted him warmly.

They spent time drinking tea and conversing, but the priest friend admits that he did all the talking. The brother's daily routine never varies and may be the reason, the columnist says, his friend had so little to say. The columnist monopolized the conversation and confessed, perhaps cynically, he admits, asking the brother that it must be nice to spend the whole day in prayer.

All the brothers have different tasks, the brother answered. They are busy with lectures, sermons, counseling, teaching, and the like. He was not gifted in this way, he said, so he takes care of the house and does his little tasks, and with the time left over goes to the church to pray. The priest then asked what he suspected might be considered a foolish question: how should one pray? 

The brother said that those who know more than he knows examine themselves spiritually with the head and with whole-body pray. "I do not know how to do this," he said.  "I just sit my butt  in the church. Those who see me think I'm praying but it's not the usual kind of prayer. When we experience God's love, doesn't the body in some way respond? For myself, just sitting in the church for one or two hours is just fine.  I look at the cross, the tabernacle, the heavens through the open widows, feel the breeze, and speak to God with the feelings I have. I don't know how to pray, but I do know how to sit my butt in a church pew."

He added, "My body goes to where it wants, and what I feel with my body I present to God."

The columnist says that his own butt does not particularly like going into church to sit down. However, he hopes the day will come when his butt will want to do what the brother enjoys doing.

Importance of Prenatal Care and Natural Birth

We are so inundated by information in today's world, delivered in many different and attractive ways, that it's hard to keep up with even a fraction of it. And whether the information is true and helpful requires discernment on our part. So when the Catholic Times reviewed the book, First Hour Of Life Determines All of Life, by Doctor Lee Gyo-won, the title of the book must have raised a few eyebrows in doubt, even though it was noted that the doctor has studied the issue for many years.

Catholicamericaneyesinkorea mentioned the work of the doctor and the new book in August 20th of this year before it was published.

The doctor is highly respected and in the past three  years has assisted at the birth of over 400 babies by using his principles: prenatal care in harmony with nature and with love, and natural birth. For a Christian being in harmony with nature fits in well with the way we see  life.

The article mentions that most of the babies born in hospitals or other medical facilities come into the world surrounded by an atmosphere of fear. He sees this as a reason for many of the problems children have in growing up and in their years of schooling. Studies on Cesarean and induced births show a higher incidence with problems later in life.  You are programing the child's personality, says the  doctor, in the  first years of life, beginning in the womb, at birth and within  three years after birth. This has been proven to be the case by many studies.

For this reason society should provide preferential treatment for expectant mothers. Having births without trauma, the doctor feels is one of the most important things that can be done to change society. This is not about having smarter children, he insists, but simply to have normal, well-adjusted children. The problems of society at present can be properly addressed, says the doctor, if we start right at the beginning of life, with prenatal care and natural birth.

For Christians it is another lesson that whatever we do, it should be done with all the care and love that we can muster; the results of doing otherwise, although often unknown to us, can be seriously damaging not only for the individuals involved but for the long range health of society.