In Korea, as in other parts of the Catholic world, many find it difficult to reconcile the actions of the clergy and religious with the Gospel message. Why do the clergy and religious get involved in politics? An article in Bible & Life by a seminary moral professor returns to the issue for the readers.
The article begins with the Sewol ferry disaster that on April 16, 2014, heading for Jejudo capsized, killing more than 300 people, mostly students. It was one of the worst Korean maritime disasters. The tragedy sparked a public outcry that continues even today blaming the government in large part for poor safety standards and the resulting rescue work.
Since many priests and religious were on the side of the victims and wanted answers, this was seen as getting involved in politics by some of the citizens. A yellow ribbon was the symbol of the Sewol tragedy and for many years after the tragedy, a tiny yellow ribbon was seen on clothing and many other articles. A sign of solidarity with the families of those suffering and in remembrance of the dead.
The ribbon is also a sign of division as much as unity. A division between the 'right' and 'left', seen also within the church community. The professor mentions one of the Catholics, seeing the actions of the church in regards to the Sewol Disaster, wanted the funds he gave for the formation of priests returned to him. Did the person feel priests and religious were to leave these problems to others and concentrate on prayer and the Gospel?
This issue is one that has to do with the very life of the church. The Second Vatican Council stressed we are the people of God, all of us are called to follow the Gospel message. We are all members of society and when society is not directed to the common good— faced with injustice, corruption, it's necessary to sound the alarm. This is the social gospel which with the doctrine of faith are not to be separated. They do not depend on our taste nor is it a matter of choice but to know and do.
Teachings on our social life was always recognized but in 1891 Pope Leo 13th in his encyclical Rerum Novarum (Of New Things), the teaching took on a different aspect with the rights of laborers and their problems—considered by many as the labor charter.
This teaching has a firm foundation within the church, giving us four basic principles of the social gospel. Human dignity: we are created in the image and likeness of God. The common good: is to desire the good of the other and to take steps to secure it. This is the good of all, made up of individuals, families who make up society. Subsidiarity: an organizing principle where matters ought to be handled by the smallest competent authority. Solidarity: all one family in the world, building communities that empower everyone to attain their full potential, through each respecting each other.
When the rights of others are not respected and injustices are rampant than we are going in the opposite direction in building up God's kingdom. When this is the case how can the church remain silent? This is not politics. "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation." (Mark 16:15). This is the primary mission of the church.
As the capitalist economy takes root, rank, and order of Korean society becomes more embedded and the living harder. We have been hearing the word 'Hell Chosun' for some time—one finds it hard to better oneself no matter how hard one tries. So begins the Peace Column in the Peace Weekly by a commentator on welfare issues.
In a recent incident, we have a parent who arranged in getting the questions to an exam the students would be taking in their final semester. A parent's desire to help a child not lose their place in society.
Another aspect of our ordered society is the treatment of the physically impaired and those with birth defects. Those who are at the lowest places in the society, defined by humans, are treated as being deficient in a society where ability is given priority.
As of 2016, the participation rate of disabled persons in the workforce was 38.5%, which is half of the total population participation rate (63.3%). Despite the desire for employment, they are excluded from the labor market because of disabilities.
President Moon is preparing measures to solve the problems of the disabled people including the Basic Plan for Employment Promotion of Disabled Persons. However, social prejudice and discrimination against them still make employment difficult.
People with disabilities must deal with two kinds of suffering. One is the fact they have a disability, and the other is the lack of understanding and indifference of society. One is not discriminated because of disabilities but becomes disabled because of discrimination is often heard.
In a capitalist society, rankings necessarily exist, but the dignity of human beings should not be equated with their economic worth to society.
Pope Francis continues to make "social justice" an important issue of his pontificate which can be seen in many statements along with the pope's actions. The pope emphasized the need to reject the inhuman economic model that alienates the socially underprivileged. Society gives hope only by maintaining openness in employment, a way of granting human dignity to all. He also criticized the inhuman, cruel society that cannot accept suffering people, and share their pain with compassion.
Of course, it can be expected that the government's 'Community Care' initiative to support the settlement of vulnerable groups will contribute to a certain level of social integration into the local community. In other words, a person with a disability must be understood as a human being with a dignity.
The vested powers in society with their economic, cultural abundance, authority, and their ranking should not be setting the priorities for society. It is time to listen to the cries of the oppressed and to find the true center to see where we should stand.
In the educational field, we hear a lot about the Intelligence Quotient but we know it doesn't mean a high IQ will necessarily return good results. Complementing the IQ with the Emotional Quotient EQ: an attitude that doesn't get frustrated even when stressed, and ability to empathize is an important measure of academic success. A writer and composer in a diocesan bulletin writes about the ultimate quotient the Transcendental Quotient.
Scholars of different schools have devised many other indexes. Book titles are followed with the Q letter, giving us all kinds of indexes. Determining how wise parents are we have the parent index, the success index, charisma index and so forth.
Are we not also able to have a belief (faith) index? God is not interested in numbers, measurement rulers, and the like, although we humans have no difficulty evaluating the faith of others with our earthly measurements. We know what is first, in God's reckoning may be last and the last first.
Faith, without doubt has stages and depth. However, no matter how we go about trying to discern a person's faith index—it's no easy task. How can we give a numerical figure to pure love, a sincere heart, obedience, sacrifice, there is no way we can objectively quantify these attributes. When it's a question of a human quality, it's possible but when we are dealing with the presence of grace everything changes and becomes pointless. No matter how developed our human technology in certain areas humans are incompetent.
The universe continues to expand. Our knowledge, great as it may be is a grain of sand on the seashore. No matter what we think we have done, and merit, for a Christian it's all the movement of grace, following the lights we have received. We come to a moment when all our human efforts give way to the transcendent being which carries us beyond our human quotients to the Transcendental Quotient—TQ.
The writer has long ago given up trying to figure out the meaning of space and time. However, she has entered the world of faith where she meets the Alpha and Omega, the being of unending love that words can't describe. She has entered the narrow gate where everything opens up to her in the mystery of faith. She has received this invitation and the response on her part is only joy and gratitude.
As an epilogue, in our Scholastic Philosophy, the Transcendentals are not just the true, good and beautiful but 'oneness' is added. They are the attributes of God and we search for them in life knowingly and unknowingly leading us to God.
Search for truth, goodness and the beautiful in science, religion and art can depend on our personal efforts but unity requires the assistance of others which makes our striving difficult if not impossible. However it should be our goal, although it will be only in the afterlife that we will achieve what we should desire in this life—the one, true, good and beautiful.
Often we make judgments that after a period of time we realize were made too quickly. A religious sister explains to the readers of the Catholic Peace Weekly that there are times we have to step back to see clearly.
She was impressed by a sister from the same community hearing her soft voice, calm, kind and friendly appearance and thought it would be nice to live with her in a community. The day did come and she says it may have been because of the expectations but it was uncomfortable living together. When she felt the unkindness and had her faults pointed out with a soft voice and a smile the respect she once had disappeared. One needs to live with another to know them.
It's not easy to respect the persons you live with. People who have heard her lectures say: "She is respectful, passionate, speaks clearly" but that is not her ordinary attitude, she says. A nun who lived with her said to sister: "Sister, I know you're smart but isn't it shallow? She thought of herself as a precise and sharp person but this remark shows a person who makes mistakes and says what everybody knows.
Is there not a saying that it's difficult to live in a house with a saint? Of course, with a certain age difference, and different roles, a distance is maintained. However, when we eat, work and sleep under the same roof, the distance disappears. When distances are gone, it is hard to maintain 'respect' even though affection remains.
A son enters the military and is distant from his parents and then his letters are filled with respect for his parents. When her parents were alive she was not quick to show respect but after their death, she remembered all that they did and respect was deeply felt. Respect often comes with distance.
Nowadays digital information mixes private and public matters with no sense of distance. Famous entertainers and politicians we have never met are known to us from gossip. We speak to one another bringing up things we have seen on TV or the internet, talk about people we have never met and strangers become friends for a moment.
One person becomes a demon another an angel. At times it is chit chat and other times we slander others. Digital information draws strangers into our private space at times honorably and other times an object of our dislike.
Jesus was not respected in his hometown. Likewise, we live in a global village in which we can communicate quickly and easily. The hometowns of Europe, America and Korea are all the same. President Trump and Moon Jae-in, often appear as just another"him".
How about distancing yourself from the digital world? Trees and flowers need a proper distance to grow well. On highways, the distance between cars must be maintained for safe driving. In order to love and respect each other, distance is needed. Proper distance prepares one to have a proper respect for others.
Yesterday was Chuseok Holiday, writing in the Catholic Times, a university professor remembers his deceased mother who would spend time preparing the meals for the family and guests with great joy on Chuseok and similar holidays. She was a hidden saint sharing willingly God's love, mercy and life with others.
In modern society, where industrialization and urbanization are firmly in place, the only way to succeed and develop is to make a lot of money and consequently housekeeping is not looked upon with favor. In a Confucian society the husbands were the money makers and the housewives naturally would cook, wash, clean and care for the children. Since work in the home did not bring in money it was not considered important or respected.
But today, the world is changing. With the abolition of the the Hoju (family register) system in Korea in 2007 which was consdered a violation of the right to gender equaility we have the domestic work of women recognized. With the large number of women entering the work force men are more actively involved in child care. It is easy to imagine the problems a family has without concern for the household tasks.
As a sociologist the writer learned a little about life and living when he was in charged of a study hall. It was not difficult raising money and management but it was never easy to prepare three meals a day and to care for each child and try to to energize the children. He was grateful to learn a little more about "real life", more important than "money and management" thanks to the lay teachers who shared God's love while playing with children and those who didn't want to study.
In Korean the word for housekeeping (living), does not orginate from the intransitive word 'living' but from the transitive verb to give life. In today's individualistic society where concern with oneself alone is prominent, serving others does not come quickly to mind.
Therefore, the spirit behind housekeeping is in touch with God's creation of the world and seeing that all was good. Beyond the narrow thinking only of oneself, all the family members are at the heart of 'houseliving', serving family, the neighbors and giving life to the community of all, not 'ownership and competition' but mercy and the marvelous abundance of God.
When parents invest huge amounts of money in their child's education, and forget the child's expectations this is not good 'housekeeping'. Because of the economy when employers refuse to give a minimum wage to the poor part-time students this is just anxiety, and not good 'housekeeping'. When a pastor without concern for the feelings of the parishioners asks unreasonably for funds for the church the pastor is not 'housekeeping' correctly. If you are looking for high profits with real estate and unreasonably ask for an increase in rent, this is not good 'housekeeping'. If we fall into the ideology that encourages division and disconnection and refuse the way of reconciliation of the North and the South to advance towards world peace, this is not good 'housekeeping'.
In order for us to live a real life, we need to have the courage to go beyond the standards of the world and begin to take examples from God's mercy and grace to humankind.
In recent history, we have had many investigated for alleged abuse of judicial authority and dereliction of duty. Invariable the reason comes that they were just following orders. This is something endemic in society and is not only a recent phenomenon.
The many statements that have followed the court procedures show this as the main reason for the abuse of duties. In a column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, a professor brings to the attention of the readers the struggle that many have with conscience and their duties.
But there are others who act in reverse. One of them is a police officer who was the director of police in 1980 in Jeollanam-do. He objected to orders from above during the May 18 Democratic Uprising. He was dismissed from his post, arrested, tortured for disobeying orders and directing his officers to turn in weapons and providing medical treatment and food for the protestors. He passed away in 1988 from the after effects from the torture he had to endure for what they called abandonment of duties.
Are those in subordinate positions in society to obey orders unconditionally of their superiors even if they are unjust and immoral? When a person just follows orders does that make everything right? She asks the readers if they were in that situation where the orders of the superior go against one's conscience what would they do? This is a question each one has to face.
These kinds of problems are not only faced by people working in government or industry but situations of this type are seen in our daily lives. Obviously, we are not talking about matters of little concern or of no moral value. Conscience is the sense that tells us what is right or wrong in our actions.
It's difficult to follow one's own conscience when it is not the will of the superior—nothing is guaranteed and security is jeopardized, Many things are guaranteed and sustained if I follow the instructions from above unconditionally.
The hope is that those in leadership positions in society will not be ordering injustices and immoral behavior. We need people who will develop their consciences and do what is right even at the risk of harm coming to them. This is the way to guarantee a society that will not feel shame in what we hand on to our children.
Areas of study are many and different. Science is one of the big fields where the physical and natural world is studied through observation and experiment. A priest, professor of physics at Sogang University, writes about the relationship of science and religion in the Catholic Peace Weekly.
He mentions the well known English atheist scientist Richard Dawkins who wrote in his book, The God Delusion, the more intelligent and the greater the level of education the less likely one is to have a religion. He doesn't have a very high opinion of scientists who are believers.
A question quickly comes to mind. Can science answer all the questions that we have? In the scientific age, called also the age of the fourth industrial revolution, does religion have a place? Some scientists have the conviction that religions are no longer viable—scientism.
Science has without a doubt given answers to many of our questions about nature and life, a great benefit to humankind but it can't answer the question of the 'why' of life and nature. Of course, the scientist with a belief in scientism believes that science has the answer to all our questions. This is an internally held belief and actually their religion and not a scientific response to reality.
Scientists have no way of giving answers to the meaning of life. It is here that religion enters our thoughts. Different religions have different answers to the questions about life, death, and search for the answers to morality, the existence of a being greater than the human and awe in the contemplation.
It brings to mind the many questions that we ask ourselves. How am I to live? How am I to understand this problem, this accident? How am I to deal with my own scars and find peace of mind and soul and find some solution? These are questions science can't answer.
In this new age of the 4th industrial revolution, what is the meaning of religion? Dawkins points out the evils of religion and calls for its abolition but he says this from his own convictions which are the product of his own lived life. He is actually unscientific, he is influenced by his own personal individuality which is his religion. He condemns it and at the same time is a believer in his own religion.
In conclusion, we can say that nobody is able to get rid of a belief system. One can refrain from taking upon oneself a religious belief but no one is able to free themselves from asking questions about life and its meaning. Consequently, as in the past, the present and in the future, the search for meaning will always be present.
Science and Religion have both their own areas of study and search. They need not be enemies and see everything only from their own vantage point. St. John Paul II said: "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth, and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—"
