The Korean Bishops' subcommittee on women's issues recently in their
regular yearly seminar used a different approach than in the past. They
decisively jettison the old system in which a talk and authorities in
their field would discuss the topic and the participant would listen. Both Catholic papers and editorial brought the meeting to the attention of the readers.
This
time they used the principles of the Open Space Technology to conduct
their meeting. The idea is attributed to Harrison Owen an American who
gathered the many ideas on meetings to form this new technology of
coming to a decision. The participants freely expressed their opinion,
they selected what they wanted to talk about and determined how they
wanted to make the decisions.
They became active
participants from the beginning to the end. This was a strange method compared to what they were accustomed to from the past.
As the
meeting progressed they began to find a vitality present. Under
the big heading of the meaning and role in the call to the feminine
they considered: * motherhood and the feminine * recruiting of women
experts * religious education in the family * child care within the
Church * care for the women who are marginalized * relationship within
the community of faith these and four more the participants
selected.
Participants came from different dioceses and parishes, all
workers within the community of faith. They were all convinced of a
need to change the way of doing things; agreed the change
had to begin with themselves. A change from a passive to active
participation in the life of the Church. A change was also needed in the system.
60 members attended and were
convinced that they had to change if society was going to change. The
bishop who is the committee chairman said that hearing the women talk, he had a need to change. Women have a great deal to do within the
Church. Since the women's role and position in society has changed this
has to change also in the Church. The women have a role also to make in
the society and the Church needs to support them in this role.
The topics discussed at the seminar will continue to be matter for study and development.
A religious sister in View from the Ark of the Catholic Times begins with the news of a middle aged comedian's suicide. He was in his 50s, suffering from depression over money matters. The death shocked many because of his popularity and his recent appearance in a TV drama. The sister is in charge of a diocesan desk which works in the prevention of suicides in the diocese. She prayed that this suicide would not lead to imitations.
The suicide rate among middle-aged men continues to increase yearly. More than 70% of all suicides are male and half are men between the ages of 40 and 65.
Most of the suicides are related to work: failing in their work, losing their job or not properly assessed in the workplace. Depression and thoughts of suicide enter. Men, even at the sacrifice of family, often give themselves to their jobs to such an extent that when things goes wrong, despair, great shock, and suicide is the result.
Men in our society are judged by their work and consequently, the responsibility they feel is great. Unlike women, they are not able to express in words the pressures and frustrations they face. This means they carry it with them, it isolates them, despair follows and the last escape is death at their own hand.
Even though this is the case, in Korea, in the mass media and in our approach to the problem, we continue to concentrate on the youth and the elderly. Problems with the middle age men are not seen as important. Considering the current social situation with the lack of employment opportunities and economic slowdown, the problems will increase.
What can we do? What can the church do? We need to be more attentive to this group of men and understand the difficulties they face. Family and acquaintances need to show concern and sympathize with them. In her counseling, she hears often how responsibility they have for the family and their abilities make for conflict and trials. She has much sympathy for them living in our present society.
The nation has to become involved and a national response is necessary. Money, both public and private needs to be set aside for suicide prevention and to establish a safety net. We need to help the men to express themselves and find ways to lighten their burdens. "I am tired. it's difficult, I want to rest, I am lonely," we need to help them say what is inside. All of us need to show concern.
We need to get out of the functional mode which society puts us in at an early age and begin to see life from a contemplative and being mode. Show gratitude for what people have done, instead of saying "fight the good fight" better to say, "you have done much, thank you". Need to remember that life is more precious than what we do.
In the Peace Column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, the writer mentions a book he received from a publisher.The subtitle grabbed his attention: A believer looking into his storage room. It was a short piece of only two pages. For whom is the sermon written? He summarizes the contents for the reader.
"The sermon at Mass is like a flower in the liturgy. The congregation is looking forward to smelling the fragrance. What they get at times is a nasty smelling sermon. There are all kinds of people listening. There is no way of knowing for whom the sermon was prepared. To side with one group against another is dangerous. It exposes oneself. The parishioners are looking for nourishment for their spiritual life and often receive only stress. He asks the Christians are they progressive or liberal. Whatever the reason to expect the parishioners to be at his understanding of reality is rude. The sermon from the pulpit is not master to slave or superior to an inferior. We need equilibrium between the priest and congregation.
The columnist wasn't in complete agreement in the way the author expressed his thoughts but did agree with the point he was making. The sermon is for the people and not the priest and it's not only saying pleasant things. We need to hear at times what is unpleasant and makes us uncomfortable. It's impossible to please everybody. Jesus himself said that he did not come to give comfort to all.
Depending on the Christian's disposition in being conservative or progressive, will determine the acceptance of what is said. A priest like all of us will speak from his own set of values but since he's human this will not be always in harmony with the teachings of Jesus. We shouldn't react too sensitively here. In many cases, opposition to the sermon on the social doctrine of the Church can be ignorance of the teaching of the Church.
Sermons are different than lectures and preaching at mass rallies. The sermon at the liturgy should become food for the lives of the believers who participate at the Mass. Of course, the subjective nature of the priest is bound to be reflected, but the priest who is a disciple of Jesus tries to minimize this.
Most priests know this. They prepare to give spiritual nourishment for the Christians. However, if there is even a small number who think differently he wants to ask the priest: Who is the sermon for?
Summer is the time for the hot weather and we see a warming that is not natural and a cause of concern for the majority of scientists who have studied the issue. Although some do not see a man-made problem, the majority of the scientists believe we are responsible for what is happening, we are the problem. Since decisions necessary from this conclusion are going to disrupt the way we live, we have hesitation and denial.
A professor at the Catholic University, who is working in the field of environment, writes in a diocesan bulletin to convince the readers of this serious concern. He wonders in his own mind if this is not the most serious issue that humanity needs to face at this time.
In the last hundred years the continual use of fossil fuels and the release of the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere have formed a greenhouse which in the past was not a problem but the greenhouse that is formed now radiates the heat back to the earth instead of allowing the gases to enter space, accounting for the warming and the erratic weather.
In the past millions of years, plants and the oceans were able to absorb the gases. It was the natural make up of the world given to us by the creator. We humans with an insatiable greed for more energy have broken down the equilibrium that was present.
This makes living with air-conditioners a choice of many. The Han River no longer freezes over in the winter. Polar ice caps melting has raised the level of the ocean and he recalls a trip to Jejudo and walking along a path which is now covered with ocean water and no longer in use.
He often reflects on the words of Genesis. Seven times: "God saw that it was good." Would God say that today seeing the condition creation is in? He concludes that this is not a problem for a few but of all. As Christians, we should realize that the conservation of energy is a need for all, otherwise it will come back to haunt us.
We need to realize that taking care of the beautiful creation is showing concern for ourselves and our posterity. It is an important offering we can make to God for his gift of creation.
A medical doctor who had a history of stomach cancer writes in the Catholic Digest on how to live to a ripe old age of 125. During the Joseon dynasty the average age was 47, today the average age is 80. Korea has joined the ranks of the long living nations. With the increase, the desire also to live longer has increased.
He gives a brief description of a chromosome and the role of a compound structure at the cap of a chromosome called telomere. At the beginning of life, they are long, with age they shorten. They will determine the life of the chromosome. A cell divides approximately 60 times in a lifetime the telomeres also get shorter and with the decrease in size, eventually the cell dies.
Our bodies, however, produce the protein Sirtuin which helps to nourish the cell and repairs the cell and renews its life. He reminds the readers there is a way of replenishing this protein: by eating little. The secret is to revitalize the telomeres that are being destroyed with each division of the cell.
He gives us the steps he recommends as a doctor. Those who study longevity list the places in the world with the largest number of those who have lived long lives: Sardinia,Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Seventh Day Adventist from Loma Linda, California; and the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. Korea also has its long living areas.
He lists the qualities that are common in these areas. First, movement of both body and spirit. Second, exercise using the body like exercise equipment. No need for extreme sports and going to health facilities. Third, interest in learning, positive in outlook and thankful. Fourth, maintains a good relationship with family and acquaintances, spiritual. Fifth, retiring means death to these people. Sixth, no medicine, food or place is the secret of a long life. Seventh, they rarely go to a pharmacy or hospital.
When it comes to eating they eat a variety of food but vegetarian is predominant and keep the portions small. Secondly, they stay away from processed and refined foods. Thirdly, they eat all colors of fruits and vegetables. Fourth, protein from animals is mostly fish and pork. Fifth, when they follow a vegetarian diet they supplement the B12 by fermented foods and sea vegetables.
The influence of Heredity in all of this is about 10 percent.There is no one way of doing what is necessary but to live in peace, be happy and don't eat much. When he goes into the hospital ward of the elderly sick the following words come to mind: "It's not living long that's important but to live the years we have fully, healthfully and with joy."
Articles on the front page and in editorials in both Catholic papers commented on the Shinchonji Church of Jesus. It goes back to the group known as the Olive Tree Movement by Park Tae Sun which lost many of his members after his death to be resurrected again in other apocalyptic Korean movements. Manhee Lee is the founder of this New Heaven and New Earth (Shinchonji) movement which continues to grow.
The bishops have shown concern since Catholics are joining the movement and causing problems in families. Protestants have taken a more active stand, and earlier, against the movement and have warned the Christians. The movement seems to have found an easier time with Catholics. A book was published as a resource to help understand the aggressive tactics of the New Heaven and New Earth members.
Korea has a love for the occult and since pluralism is seen everywhere, Korea is open to accepting all kinds of religious ideas. According to some who have studied the situation: pseudo-Christian religions in Korea are many. They do not accept the historical understanding of Christianity that was handed down to us in history: Bible and tradition. They are attracted more to the teachings of a messiah type charismatic leader.
In the religious census, every ten years the Christians are divided into two groups: Catholics and Protestants. Many do not care to be associated with Protestantism and many of the Protestants are not happy to be listed with many of those who consider themselves Christian, but Christian citizens have only two choices.
The historical Protestant churches would consider many of these movements pseudo-religions. Many of the Christians participate in self-training groups of all kinds, many of which are religious in nature but since it is in the private domain, little is said and many who participate have no idea of the religious nature of the group they have joined.
The intimacy of a small knit community is missing in many of the Christian churches and in Catholicism, this is a known problem. Consequently, we have those who just leave and join other Christian denominations that are friendlier and make them feel accepted. This is what the New Heaven and New Earth movement offer their new members but at a great price.
One editorial mentions that within the Catholic communities because of structures, Christians are not finding joy in their lives. They are not experiencing God or expressing love in their lives but rather looking for personal peace and 'spiritual worldliness'. "This consists in seeking not the Lord's glory but human glory and personal well-being" (Gospel of Joy # 93). A functional approach to Christianity, without the heart and joy that a disciple of Jesus should have, leaves these Christians open to the overtures that come from these fringe groups.
Hopefully, these pseudo-Christian religions will show how poorly we have done in building community and motivate us to remember what is important.
"Teacher, I heard the lecture today. I have prepared a simple meal so let's have a drink." These words begin the View from the Ark article in the Catholic Times. The writer is responsible for the Alcoholic Treatment Center at a Catholic Hospital.
The lecture was given to a Catholic audience. Both the person who mentioned the drink and the lecturer had an embarrassed smile on their faces. The topic of the lecture was alcoholic addiction. To send off the lecturer without some sharing would be a breach of etiquette. In Korea, after the first meeting, the second meeting is even more elaborate and lasts longer than the first.
When the writer was assigned to the hospital which was mainly for those addicted he was glad to see the concern the Church had in this area. His friend a Protestant said he would be busy since Catholics love to drink. He laughed but it is not a laughing matter. Catholics who have more than one bottle of Soju (Korean whiskey) are 39.3 % which is twice that of the Protestants and even higher than those with no religion.
We as Catholics can comfort ourselves in not seeing the problems of alcohol but this is a prejudiced understanding of the problem. Is it like diabetes and high blood pressure, anyone can have the problem? In Korea close to 5 million are in danger of becoming alcoholics. In the United States, the Psychiatric Association changed the medical diagnosis of alcoholism to alcoholic disorder: showing concern for the problem right from the beginning.
Always thinking of alcohol, the increase of consumption, without alcohol not able to sleep, making mistakes repeatedly, not doing one's work well, are all signs of a disorder.This is suggestive of a form of dementia.
Most of the alcoholics at one time had no problem with drinking but with the continual use, there is no way to escape the changes to the brain and spirit: not because of a lack of virtue or will power. With the increase in use, depression, sleep problems, stress and becoming overly sensitive all may appear. With the continual use we have the beginning of dementia for which there is no cure.
Those who made a study of the problem see our present approach as ignoring the issue since at the beginning there are no serious problems but he compares it to the tower of Babel for the danger of self-destruction is real.
He concludes the article with a quote from Pope Francis who said to make a beautiful world, first there is a need to make a mess. He understands this to mean when we start challenging the evils in society and the way things are done: in this case a little tobacco and a little liquor what is the problem(?) way of thinking is to make a mess.
The title of the article uses the Chinese character for liquor and the character for the Lord, both have the same pronunciation. Not infrequently the liquor '주' (Ju) prevents us from being close to '주' 'Ju' our God.
