Signis: Telling the Truth

Both Catholic Weeklies reported again on their front pages on the conclusion of the Signis World Congress and this is the summary of the four days of discussion and dreams for the future in the Catholic Peace Weekly.

 "We believe that peace can be achieved in the digital world through the renewing power of the Holy Spirit."

The 2022 Seoul Signis World Congress, where Catholic journalists from all over the world gathered in one place, ended in a grand way on the 18th at Sogang University in Mapo-gu, Seoul, with a new insight into the role of the media and singing a song of hope for peace. 

At the closing ceremony, the participants of the General Assembly issued a statement summarizing the contents of the General Assembly discussion, emphasizing that "the press should lead readers, viewers, and listeners to the light." It also reminded us of our mission to strive to deliver truthful and meaningful information. They said in a statement that "a new society can be built only when we create the awareness that we can work peacefully with people of different cultures, beliefs, religions and ideologies.

"About 300 people from 32 countries took part online and offline at this general meeting, which was held for the first time in five years, delayed by one year due to COVID-19. From the 15th to the 18th, participants discussed issues facing modern society, such as the contradiction of disconnection and isolation in a hyper-connected world, the harmful effects of fake news, the inequality caused by the digital divide, and the climate crisis through topic discussions and forums. Focusing more on discovering the light rather than the shadow brought about by technological development and the potential for good rather than the destructive influence of media, they shared various ideas for achieving peace in the digital world. 

Most of the events and programs were broadcast live through the CPBC YouTube channel. Those who could not come to the site in person participated in the general meeting through YouTube, Zoom, and Metaverse.

In particular, at the General Assembly, the Vatican Public Relations Minister Paolo Rufini, who was appointed as the first lay minister of the Vatican, and journalist Dmitry Muratov (Russia), who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, as key speakers, drew attention from many people. In addition, about ten presenters participated in each topic, and stories from the field were more rich and vivid than ever. 

In addition, as journalists of the same faith, the participants held Mass together every day and shared in communion. The participants, who experienced unity while getting to know each other, returned to their respective positions with the hopeful conviction that the media would contribute to the common good of mankind.

In his farewell address, Cardinal Su-jeong Yeom, co-chairman of the SIGNIS World Assembly, said, "It is truly meaningful for all Koreans, as well as the Catholic Church, the visit to Korea, the only divided country in the world, by all of you who are spreading the peace of the kingdom of God."  He added: "It is an era in which the role of Signis members is very important. Through this, we hope for an era of true peace where all people in the world can enjoy the peace of the Kingdom of God."

Han Seung-soo (Daniel), chairman of the Organizing Committee of the SIGNIS World Congress, did not forget to express his gratitude to all those involved who spared no effort and enthusiasm for the success of the convention. Helen Osman, President of Signis World, said: "I hope we will never forget this time when we affirmed that our mission was to listen with an open mind, to understand each other, and to tell the truth."

SIGNIS is a compound word of SIGN, which means media and message, and IGNIS, which means to light a fire. It is a Vatican-accredited organization that holds the World Congress every four years. Signis is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and the secretariat is in Rome, Italy. There are more than 100 member countries of Signis around the world, and in Korea, about 500 members are active mainly in broadcasting companies, newspapers, and publishers.

Leaders Need to Express "Mea Culpa"

In the Peace column of the Catholic Peace Weekly the press director singles out Pope Francis as an example of what is necessary for a leader.
 
Pope Francis' leadership is setting an example for people around the world, not just Catholics. What is the key? It can be summarized as 'authenticity in which words and actions are consistent. To realize the evangelical values ​​of love, justice, and peace, we go to the fringes even when we are afraid, yield even if we suffer losses, and challenge ourselves even when there is no possibility of success. Emphasize a church for the poor. Political acts contrary to the common good are condemned. He strongly calls for policies to reduce income inequality against unregulated capitalism in order to establish economic justice. As an apostle of peace, he opposes war and actively mediates peace in conflict and conflict areas.
 
There is opposition to change and renewal, followed by resistance. The Pope embraces this as the leadership of humility, dialogue, and persuasion. It is not a one-sided 'charismatic leadership' that provokes antipathy such as 'follow me. The Pope recently made a "pilgrimage of penance" to Canada. The Pope repented for the painful mistakes the Catholic Church had committed against indigenous peoples in the past and asked for forgiveness. In doing so, he took action advising the Church of Canada to actively respond to the demands of the Canadian Government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
 
There are no 'blaming others' in the Pope's leadership. He does not turn away from the mistakes of Catholicism in the past, boldly admitting that it is "my fault (Mea culpa)" and "our fault" and asks for forgiveness. The apology is straightforward and frank. Do not express yourself vaguely but in a way, that the other person can feel the sincerity. In addition, the new code of conduct is concretely presented to realize healing and reconciliation.
 
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who passed 100 days after his inauguration, is now facing a leadership crisis. In various opinion polls, President Yoon's approval rating has continued to decline, reaching the high 20% level. Unless there is a major change in the president's words and actions and his mindset and attitude toward state management, the influence of President Yoon in state affairs is expected to weaken further. President Yoon, who had been a prosecutor for most of his life, seems to emphasize the rule of law and strongly advocates fairness and justice. But now, people are strongly asking what is fairness and common sense.
 
President Yoon's way of responding to criticism from the public and the media focus on shifting responsibility. When asked about responsibility for the appointment of some ministers, the president said, "Have you seen any great people in the previous administration?" Although it is honest and coming from the heart, the public receives it as coming from the president's egoism and self-righteousness. The president's actions and tone should be refined and inclusive. We must consider the hearts of the majority of people suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic hardship. Reflection and scrutiny on what may be ineffective and inappropriate remarks should be a priority.
 
In order to overcome difficulties and turn a crisis into an opportunity, the president, who is in charge of state affairs, must first confess: "It's my fault." President Yoon lowered his attitude toward the people as the first step back from summer vacation. He also apologized on behalf of the government to the people affected by the torrential rain. At a press conference on the 100th day of his inauguration, he said that he would be attentive to the aspirations of the citizens. The president's administration of state affairs is different from that of the prosecution. It should be a fair and just policy for all without discrimination and bias, by humbly hiring talented people regardless of whose side they are on, and humbly supporting the demands of the people.
 
Catholics beat their breasts at every Mass and say, "It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my most grievous fault." The moment the president, his advisers, state commissioners, and members of the opposition and government parties beat their breasts in front of the people saying: 'It's my fault, the neglected public will once again turn their attention to the government.

Korea's Dolphin Like Leadership

 

A Catholic University professor in the Diagnosis of  the Times column begins by mentioning the whale that appears in the very popular TV drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo which just recently ended. The heroine is a genius lawyer with autism and knows all there is to know about whales. Whenever a new idea or inspiration comes to the mind of the lawyer, the viewers see a whale leisurely flying through the sky.

 

There are times when the characteristics of the country's external actions are compared to animals, and Korea has been compared to a shrimp on the back of   fighting whales that gets squashed.

 

It permeates our perception since we have suffered from the great powers around us. Another aspect of our self-awareness as a shrimp is suspicion and resistance to foreign powers. At times, feelings of antipathy towards neighboring countries, and even hatred, were violently expressed, often with the self-awareness that we are merely a passive object rather than a subject in international politics.

 

It is difficult to call Korea a shrimp now. Korea is listed among the 10 largest economies and defense powers in the world, and people around the world are immersed in Korean culture. In recent years, BTS, Parasite, Squid Game, and Lim Yun-chan  have continued to entertain the world, and there is a high expectation that they will continue to do so in the future. Heung-Min Son and, although less well known, Se-Hyeok Jo, who won the Wimbledon Under-14 tournament this year. In this way, the story naturally comes out that our nation's power has grown enough that we don't have to feel like a shrimp on a whales back.

 

In particular, in the world of the young people in the MZ generation, Korea has never been a shrimp. They do not have the sense of inferiority or feel victimized  by the so-called advanced countries that their parents and grandparents' generation felt. Confidence is fundamental. Korea is already a developed country by default, so there is no reason to be particularly thrilled.

 

Although dolphins are often attacked by vicious large whales and sharks, they are quite large among marine animals and swim quickly, so they are not often eaten by marine predators. We love dolphins. That can be our new image.

 

It has a cute appearance, has high intelligence, and does not harm people. In addition, it is said that they communicate with each other, stand by their injured colleagues, help each other and rely on each other. The drama writer of 'Strange Lawyer Woo Young-woo' seems to have paid special attention to these social characteristics of dolphins. 

 

Korea, like a dolphin, should be externally peace-oriented, attractive, smart, and agile. We will pursue solidarity with other countries. In particular, the younger generation expects to be a guide to the world without fuss by swimming leisurely into the sea of ​​the future, rather than feeling dazed by the sense of loss. Alleviating competition and confrontation between great powers, actively responding to climate change and energy issues for a sustainable future, playing a part in the rapidly developing field of science and technology, and contributing to human civilization through the establishment of new norms in the international community. It is a contributing country. 

 

Internal infrastructure is also important for Korea's external actions. If each individual is involved in violent competition with himself and others indefinitely, everyone will be exhausted. There is no future. Serious social problems such as population decline, gender conflict are also caused in that young people don't have hope in the future. The future is only in a warm and relaxed community where we, with our diverse personalities, are respected, help each other, and live together. Isn't cultivating such a community a dream that dolphin Korea should  have at this time of transition in the world order?

A New Vision of North Korea

The Catholic Times in its Reconciliation Column on the  present situation between the North and South Korea  gives the readers some thoughts on the subject. The writer is research fellow at the Catholic Institute for Northeast Asia Peace and gives us what the future could bring in our relationship with North Korea.

The writer  received a book as a gift from the author two months ago. The title is "A New Perspective on North Korea". The author,  is a lawyer and professor of North Korean studies.  He explains, based on his long- research, that the existing inter-Korean legal system needs to be changed to fit the present reality. 

 

As soon as the writer  received the book, he started to read and finished it in two days. The author's suggestions for those interested on the North South Korea situation would find it interesting. The columnist  introduces two proposals. 

 

First, we are proposing to recognize North Korea as a state. Currently, North Korea is an illegal or anti-state organization under the constitution, but has a dual status as a partner in dialogue and cooperation for peaceful unification. This dual status causes a lot of confusion, and the controversy over the repatriation of North Korean fishermen to North Korea is a clear example. However, he explains that recognition as a country can clarify legal instability or inconsistent policies toward North Korean defectors.

 

[The South Korean constitution defines national territory as the whole Korean Peninsula and according to the Korean Supreme Court all the North Korean citizens are South Korean citizens. Consequently the forced repatriation of North Korean citizens who have come South is an illegal act]

  

Of course, whether or not to recognize North Korea as a state can be controversial as it is also a matter of our constitution, but considering the legal stability and consistency of policy, it is a topic that needs to be  given serious thought.

Second, regarding the nationality of North Koreans, the majority  opinion is  that North Koreans are South Koreans, but now this  opinion  should be reviewed again. The need  to change this is seen in many unexpected cases that have occurred. In reality we are  unable to force nationality on a person who claims to be a North Korean citizen even though he is in South Korea, and in the case of North Korean defectors who have settled in the UK, they have never acquired South Korean citizenship.

 

In addition, the author gives views on how to view North Korea's land and how to revive the spirit of agreement in the inter-Korean agreement, but the writer of the column thinks the previous two suggestions are something ordinary citizens should give some thought

 

In addition to this, the author gives opinions on how to view the land in North Korea and how to preserve the consensual spirit of the inter-Korean agreement.

Judging from the facts that have occurred in our legal system in the past by the current standards, there are parts that are unconnected with reality. In this regard, he has come to accept much of the author's opinion that we need to rethink the issues involved in consideration of the expected controversy.

He looks forward to the preparations in our inter-Korean relations in all areas, including the legal system.

 

2022 Seoul Signis World Congress

 

Both Catholic Weeklies had front-page articles on the '2022 Seoul Signis World Congress' that was held in Seoul from August 15 to 18 at Sogang University, Seoul. It has been 5 years since the event was held in Quebec, Canada in 2017. 96 people from 32 countries around the world participated, and a total of 300 people including Koreans participated in the general assembly online and offline.
 
At the opening ceremony, The Vatican Minister of Public Relations, Paolo Ruffini read the message from Pope Francis to the participants: "The choice of 'peace in the digital world as the theme of the plenary session is timely."

The Vatican Minister gave a keynote talk on the topic of Isolated Individuals in the Age of Hyperconnectivity. Minister Ruffini looked at the problems of loneliness, alienation, and slowly collapsing communities found in society today, as we enter a new era in which the real and the fake are mixed in a virtual space called the metaverse.

Minister Ruffini emphasized the role of Signis in making the world a better place. "The digital world is not already created, and we can change it. On the Internet, we weave a web of truth and beauty, faith and hope. By doing so, we can build a more human-level type communication." He then awakened the mission of Catholic journalists, saying: "It is up to us to inform and connect the values ​​of solidarity, sharing, truth, and human dignity in the digital world."

"The Signis World Congress, being held during Pope Francis's synod journey, is also an important moment in the synod," said Helen Osman President of Signis World in her congratulatory speech. She also said, "Peace is not simply a state that does not cause war or has no hatred," adding, "It is in creating a world where we, with the support of Jesus Christ, deeply understand each other and where human dignity is respected."
 
On the second day, 'fake news and the crisis of trust' were dealt with centered on the keynote lecture of Dmitry Muratov, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year. (He auctioned the  Nobel Peace Prize medal donating the proceeds to UNICEF for the benefit of refugees from Ukraine. The medal sold for US$103.5 million, the highest price ever recorded for a Nobel medal).

Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek, co-chairman of the Signis World Congress and the Archbishop of Seoul, was concerned about the technology and information gap that appear in the digital world and emphasized that "communication technology that cares for everyone is the way to communicate properly in the digital world. The church should play a role in conveying the charm of personal encounters and strive to spread the good values ​​of the church in society."
 
Han Seung-soo (Daniel), the organizer of the Signis World Congress, said, "Korea is the only divided country in the world, even though it has reached the world’s highest level in IT infrastructure, technology, and market development. The fact that the SIGNS World Congress will be held in Seoul is very meaningful." He continued, "I hope that it will be a time to explore what digital media can and should do in the evangelization we pursue while freely using Korea’s digital environment."
 

Inequality of the Climate Crisis

 

In the Catholic Peace Weekly, on the opinion page of the paper, a priest calls the rainy season this year a "climate crisis".
 
Seoul, Inchon, and the metropolitan area suffered massive flooding due to torrential rain that hit the central region for several days from the 8th. Thousands of vehicles were flooded and the city stopped functioning to the extent that roads and subways were paralyzed. It recorded the highest hourly precipitation ever recorded, resulting in loss of life and property.
 
This spring, a large-scale wildfire on the east coast surprised many. The fire did not go out for a whopping 213 hours, causing serious damage to forests and private homes. It was also the largest ever recorded and the longest wildfire on record.
 
Not just this year. In 2020, two years ago, the rainy season lasted 54 days. At that time, it rained every day for over a month: 'This rain is not a rainy season, it is a 'climate crisis' became popular on social media.
 
In 2018, an unprecedented heat wave swept the Korean Peninsula. The highest temperature in Gangwon-do soared to 41℃, and Seoul also recorded 39.6℃ for the first time in 111 years of meteorological observations. The number of heatwave days was 31.2 days.
 
This extreme weather in recent years is no longer unusual. Regardless of the adjectives we use, new climate change threatens our daily life every year. The problem is that the impact of this climate crisis hits the poorer and weaker people first.
 
As you are well aware, the torrential downpours in the central region this year killed three family members living in a semi-basement of a multi-family house. It hurts the writer to say that one of them was suffering from a developmental disability. In the wealthy areas, expensive imported cars are flooded and new cars are bought with the insurance money. However, more than 320,000 people in semi-underground houses across the country felt their lives threatened by heavy rain.
 
Our society is experiencing the same climate crisis, but the damage is not the same for all. The term "climate inequality" has now emerged where the weakest and the poorest are at greater risk. The climate crisis has become a daily routine!  Extreme weather events occur so frequently that people living in jjokbang villages (rooms smaller than 2 square meters, don't require a deposit, residents share communal toilet and kitchen) are endangered by the heat wave, and those living in the semi-underground rooms by torrential rain. Obviously, we can't close our eyes to people's problems. We need to stop the climate crisis before it's too late, and we need to advance carbon neutrality more boldly.
 
We all need to reduce the frequency of meat we eat, the number of times the car is used, the number of disposable products used, and be concerned for our neighbors.
 
We pray that God will comfort those who lost their lives and suffered property damage in the torrential downpour. In addition, he hopes that ecological conversion will be accelerated to overcome climate inequality.

Leaving the Church

A  Theological Research Institute director gives the readers of the Catholic Times some sad news on the situation of the Catholic Church in Korea.

Mass and gatherings have become freer in the parish churches since 'social distancing' was lifted in April, but the parishes don't feel as lively as they once did. Even though the sticker to sit at a distance from the person next to you disappeared, the vacant seat is still not filled. After Sunday Mass, people move off in a hurry, on weekends the inside and outside of the churches are quiet.

Researchers analyze that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the phenomenon of those leaving the church and religion and becoming indifferent to religion is intensifying in Korean society. It's not due to concerns about infection or health, but rather because religious interests and their pursuit among Koreans are gradually disappearing from their lives.

The longing to constantly question the fundamental meaning and value of life, such as why we were born, how to live the true life, and whether death will end everything, and the desire to find the answers in the teachings of our religion is now beyond many people's concern. Instead, what are the interests and longings that fill our hearts now?

Recently, there was a book called "People Leaving the Church," which was an in-depth interview with 8 people who had left or were about to leave the church from the Protestant side, so she read it with interest. Some of the people in this book are former pastors, and most of them, such as pastors’ wives, children, and missionary staff members, had close relationships with the church since childhood. They did not become atheists or give up on God but no longer wanted to remain in the church community.

Although the direct reasons and processes that led the people in the book to leave the church vary from one person to another, it was not that each individual lacked faith or lived a religious life from habit. Rather, their faith life was very important and they had very deep expectations and concerns for their spiritual life which were not satisfied.

Religious life did not give them freedom and joy but was filled with endless obligations and guilt. They asked questions not so different from nonbelievers. The community did not exhibit maturity nor gave them  what they expected but rudeness, hurting others, constant hatred, and conflict."Is God in a church like this? Is it really the true life of faith and the true gospel that this church teaches and proclaims?"

Conversely,  those who leave the church ask today's Christians: "What does it mean to be a Christian? Is the Church really where the love of God is experienced and proclaimed?" The fact that more and more people are leaving the church suggests that the question is not being answered properly, but this is not a situation unique to the Protestant Church.

According to the statistics of the Catholic Church in Korea, only 8.8% of the baptized believers participated in the Sunday Mass last year. Even before the pandemic, the participation rate for Sunday Mass was around 20%, so even after being baptized, 8-9 out of 10 believers do not come to church even in the Korean Catholic Church. Why are they leaving the church or are they vacationing for a time? If we listen to their stories, she thinks we will face some important questions the church is missing right now.