Korean Low Birth Rate

The Eyes of Priest column in the Catholic Peace Weekly reports on an unwed couple who has made known the birth of their child. 

The news of a Korean actor and model having a baby was surprising. On the 22nd, the child's mother, a model, announced the baby's birth through her social media. The father confirmed through his agency that he is the child's biological father. He stated that although there are no plans for marriage, he will fulfill his responsibilities as a parent to raise the child.

The columnist congratulates the father and mother on raising the child. He appreciates the courage of the two of them to choose life over abortion, even though it could tarnish the image that they have built up so far. 

A child, God's creation "just by existing," brings joy and love to the world. He applauds the father for taking full responsibility for their child until the end. He prays that God will bless the couple and the child born.

The priest columnist is disappointed at some of the public's evaluation of this unmarried birth. Some entertainment media and YouTubers are pouring out gossip articles about inheritance or child support. They are also forcibly linking this incident to the mother's volunteer work and using sarcasm against her. All the words poured out on them feel like stones thrown at the woman in the Gospel of John. 

If they treat famous celebrities this harshly, how much worse must it be for ordinary people who gave birth alone to protect their lives? Unfortunately, our community's atmosphere makes people choose abortion because of the opinions of others. I hope you put aside your curiosity and pray for this child.

However, he is concerned that voices are calling for various family structures because of this incident. They say that our society's traditional view of family through marriage is outdated.  The younger generation is responding positively to the model's unmarried birth. The government is exploiting this atmosphere and promoting policies to diversify family structures. The birth rate is continuously falling, so they are trying to increase it this way. The National Assembly is discussing a bill that would recognize unmarried 'couples' and same-sex 'groups' as family status, like European countries like France.

However, the birth rate must be solved differently. As Tesla's Elon Musk recently pointed out, Korea's birth rate is falling due to structural problems in our society. The fundamental reasons for the low birth rate are long working hours compared to OECD countries, pyramid-based education as seen in the medical school entrance exam craze, materialism that believes money is the most important, and our politics that cannot solve this problem. Therefore, rather than the diversity of family composition, we need to change the reality that children face to increase the birth rate.

The Catholic Church supports all those who protect life. Like Mary's conception and Joseph's courage 2,000 years ago, I pray that the Lord's grace will be abundant for all who seek to protect life. 

Sensitiviy To Gender Violence

The Korean Catholic Times' View From the Ark column reports on violence that is all too well known in many parts of the world. The columnist is a humanities professor. 

The  violence reported in the news in recent months has been brutal beyond imagination. There have been cases where victims of violence during a relationship were murdered, cases where victims were sexually assaulted online and offline, threatened with the distribution of illegal videos, and cases where photos were stolen, deepfake videos were distributed, and money was extorted.

A famous female YouTuber confessed that her ex-boyfriend threatened to distribute illegally filmed videos and extorted a large amount of money. It is shocking that other male YouTubers found out about this and threatened the victim to demand money.

We live in a society where, rather than considering respect and consideration as a basic courtesy, the attitude that the other party’s harm is irrelevant as long as my interests and desires are pursued is prevalent. The lack of sensitivity to violence is not unrelated to interpreting welfare policies for marginalized groups in terms of poverty, age, gender, and disability as preferential treatment or reverse discrimination. 

Although there has been no progress in gender equality in education and employment, underrepresentation has not been resolved, and women are not safe from violence based on male-centered thinking or misogyny.

Gender violence cannot be resolved without understanding gender power relations. However, when women are asked to act as fair, independent, and equal subjects, the violent damage they experience is trivialized. This culture supports the common belief that women bring harm to themselves. It is also unacceptable that the punishment is reduced when the perpetrator uses his or her power or is a first-time offender.

Kate Manne, a professor of philosophy at Cornell University in the United States, calls excessive sympathy for male perpetrators “himpathy” in her book “Down Girl: Misogyny.” She criticizes the culture that, behind blaming victims, pities perpetrators and interprets them as having a reason to commit crimes.

The fact that perpetrators are not monsters or horned people but ordinary people acts as compassion for the perpetrator’s situation. This is in contrast to the lack of compassion for victims. In our society, there is a tendency to doubt whether victims seduced women and not understand the victim’s situation.

In “Sexual Violence in the Market,” women’s studies researcher describes a situation in which perpetrators become more vicious as legal punishment regulations for sexual violence victims are created. Since sexual crime records are disclosed and can lead to restrictions on employment, perpetrators of sexual violence use all means to avoid punishment. They hire “competent” lawyers and even counter-sue victims for defamation.

Women’s groups are shocked to discover that perpetrators of sexual violence have transferred donations to their bank accounts. These donations are used as materials for the perpetrator to reflect on their crimes, which helps reduce the sentence.

In dramas and movies, stories where individuals punish perpetrators despite the pain of the victims and their families are popular because they do not receive due legal punishment. They judge perpetrators for justice, thereby quelling public anger and comforting victims and their families. However, when the judicial system does not judge injustice, private punishment can lead to abuse of power or violence due to the absence of reflection.

In “Anger and Forgiveness,” American political philosopher Martha Nussbaum criticizes the culture of forcing forgiveness on victims even when they do not have the will to forgive. She also explains that while personal revenge by victims and their families can alleviate their anger and pain, it does not prevent the vicious cycle of repeating the same crime. Therefore, she emphasizes that for a society to heal the wounds of victims and their families, it must sympathize with their pain and provide them with generous comfort.

Sympathizing with the pain of victims means that we must create social mechanisms for prevention and response to prevent crime and violence and prevent the creation of more victims. These devices are not just meant to be used for surveillance or punishment. When members of society become sensitive to gender-based violence, women can be assured of their safety.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

The recent Catholic Peace Weekly gave readers a look at Artificial Intelligence through the eyes of a science teacher and what it will mean for the future.

On October 8, 2024, when the Nobel Prize Committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry, the scientific community was in uproar. The winners were not pure physicists or chemists but people who contributed to the development of AI (Artificial Intelligence).

The criteria for selecting the Nobel Prize in the field of science are ‘the degree of dedication to humanity’ and ‘originality’ of research. This decision by the Nobel Prize Committee is interpreted as a high evaluation of the influence that AI will have not only in the field of science but also in everyday life. Since the first industrial revolution led by the steam engine in the 18th century, mankind has entered the era of the fourth industrial revolution represented by AI.

So, what is AI, and how far has it developed? AI is a technology or system that imitates or replaces human intelligence. In the 1950s, initial research was conducted on whether machines could learn and develop like humans. In the 1980s, AI, which only analyzed information input by humans, gained the ability to find rules and learn independently based on the Internet and digital technology in the 1990s. This is machine learning, which analyzes data and automatically finds rules.

We are now in the era of deep learning, which processes information based on artificial neural networks that mimic the human brain, and generative AI, which automatically creates content according to user requests. Generative AI produces results equal to or surpassing human capabilities in report writing, drawing, composing, and general tasks.

However, the AI ​​era does not guarantee a rosy future. Princeton University professor John Hopfield, a Nobel Prize winner in physics and known as the father of AI, said, “Recent technological advancements are very unstable. A world where everything is controlled by AI algorithms may come.” Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind and Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, also pointed out, “AI has tremendous potential to do good things, but it can also be used for harm.”

There is a strong outlook that AI will replace humans in various fields, such as office work and accounting, in the future. Homo sapiens, which refers to humans, means wise humans. In Sapiens, Yuval Harari explains that the cognitive revolution of Homo sapiens eliminated Neanderthals. Likewise, there is concern that the AI ​​revolution, which involves artificial circuits that surpass the functions of 100 billion human brain neurons, will eliminate humans as another Neanderthal.

As the relationships between individuals, groups, and countries become more complex in modern industrial society, each entity uses its maximum intelligence for self-preservation and profit and loss calculations. In such a situation, the highly efficient intelligence of AI can be helpful, but AI is non-intelligent. This is because it cannot make value judgments. Value judgments are thoroughly human, and what is needed at this time is wisdom. Wisdom is more than intelligence, acquired through trial and error, worry, and effort.

Solomon, the wise king in the Old Testament, longed for wisdom and asked God for wisdom. We, too, must long for wisdom like Solomon. Because the direction of life is determined by wisdom, not intelligence. In the AI ​​era, we need to seriously reflect on where we stand and where we are going. “The beginning of wisdom is a sincere desire to be taught.” (Wisdom 6:17)

Lesson from the Tower of Babel

Pieter Brueghel, a Flemish painter of the 16th century, is famous for his genre paintings of rural life, such as “Peasant Wedding” and “Hunters in the Snow,” as well as his “Tower of Babel,”  based on the Bible.

The Tower of Babel, appearing in Genesis 11 of the Old Testament, was built by arrogant humans in an attempt to reach the sky. The Creator mixed their languages, making it impossible for them to communicate with each other, and the tower's construction was never completed.

Brueghel’s “Tower of Babel” is a masterpiece that expresses the foolishness and limitations of humans who try to challenge God's realm. Let’s think about the “Tower of Babel.” As science and technology evolve rapidly, isn’t it possible that humans are forgetting the lessons of the past and building another Tower of Babel under the pretext of industrialization?

In November 2023, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasted that the El Niño phenomenon that occurred that year would continue until April of the following year. In fact, many parts of the world suffered from record-breaking heat waves caused by El Niño in 2024. In Xinjiang, China, there were places where the surface temperature exceeded 70 degrees. In 2024, the number of tropical nights in Korea was 39 in Seoul, and the average temperature from June to August was 25.6 degrees, the hottest summer since meteorological observations began. 

El Niño means little boy in Spanish. El Niño occurs due to the weakening of the trade winds blowing from the equator and is a phenomenon in which the water temperature in the Pacific Ocean abnormally increases. It changes to La Niña, an abnormally low sea temperature phenomenon, over 1 to 2 years. El Niño causes a decrease in fish catch, an increase in precipitation, and flooding in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and increases the frequency of droughts and forest fires due to the formation of high pressure in the western Pacific Ocean. In particular, wildfire damage was severe in Indonesia and northern Australia this year.

La Niña, which means "girl child," occurs when trade winds become stronger, opposite to El Niño, causing increased rainfall in the western Pacific Ocean and drought and wildfires in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The WMO predicted that La Niña will begin in the second half of 2024, causing cold waves in winter to hit many parts of the globe. El Niño and La Niña cause climate change, which has a major impact on the global ecosystem, agricultural productivity, and economy.

There are two leading causes of climate change: natural causes, such as changes in the Earth's orbit, changes in solar energy, and volcanic eruptions, and human causes, such as increased greenhouse gases due to excessive use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, urbanization, and deforestation. In particular, human causes such as excessive resource consumption and environmental destruction in modern industrial societies are the main culprits in accelerating climate change.

As human intelligence has advanced and technology has become more sophisticated, engineering technology has developed more than ever, and humans armed with advanced genetic knowledge have reached the level of artificially processing the mysteries of life phenomena in laboratories and industrializing them. If humans become intoxicated by these results and cross the line they should not cross, they will become the protagonists of another Tower of Babel that will meet an unfortunate end.

Scientific progress without philosophy is like building a castle on sand; technological development without humanity and love for humanity is like drinking from a poisoned cup that gleams. Religious and philosophical reflection and reason must serve as red lights to prevent industrialization due to scientific and technological progress from becoming a runaway train heading toward a dead end without brakes. And right now.

Searching For Peace on the Peninsula—

In an article in the Catholic Peace Weekly on the worsening situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Special Committee for Reconciliation of the People of the Bishops' Conference urged that the current confrontation should be resolved by "putting yourself in the other person's shoes" rather than by physical force.

In the appeal, the bishops’ committee stated: “The Korean Church should keep a close eye on the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and earnestly hope that no armed conflicts occur on this land,” and “The world is concerned about the news of North Korean troops being dispatched to Russia, which is at war, and our government’s arms support to Ukraine.” They continued to express concern that “there are many people who complain of discomfort and anxiety due to the proliferation of hostile waste balloons and loudspeaker noises day and night.”

The committee emphasized to leaders, politicians, and policymakers in the South and the North that “the first duty of the state is to ensure the safety of the people” and that “they should consider the suffering caused by the tragedy of war as their own.” In particular, they appealed: “The role of the newly elected American leader is also important,” and “Diplomatic efforts by countries related to the Korean Peninsula, including the United States, are urgently needed so that military tensions can be eased and dialogue can be restored between the South and the North.”

The Committee also urged believers with a mission for peace and all those who pursue the common good to “avoid Military conflict under any circumstances” and “Let us all urge political leaders to choose peaceful methods.”

The committee stated, “Although it is difficult to hope for peace now, the church that believes in Christ who overcame death and was resurrected never loses hope,” and “This hope gives us the courage to overcome fear and allows us to choose the path of love and reconciliation even in moments of conflict.”

Usefulness of Uselessness—

The Preciousness of Faith Column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, written by a University priest professor, meditates on gratuitousness and its necessary place in life. "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Luke 17:10).  

This phrase gives us much food for thought, not only for those who serve in the church but also for our society, which values usefulness as one of their highest values. A good way to begin the new liturgical year is to be mindful of the meaning in our daily lives.  

How difficult it is to serve without selfishness. We move only when there is a reward and sad when there is no reward. But isn't the happiest time when we serve willingly, even though no one recognizes it, rather than when we receive a reward?

Parents are happy to see their children growing up. They don't shower their children with love, expecting a reward. All the pain and hardship of raising a child, the anxious moments, the struggling hearts, the long, painful nights, all that hard work and effort, melt away with just one smile on their child's face. There is joy when you give freely and without expecting anything in return. That joy cannot be exchanged for anything in the world.

As someone involved in forming priests, the happiest moment is when seminarians complete their seminary training and are ordained as priests. He thanks God for the students who have grown up.

Gratuitousness, giving without expecting anything in return, is the value and virtue our faith needs today to take a leap forward. Today, everything is judged by the yardstick of economics. As a result, not only everything people do but even themselves are judged by economic logic. If I receive something, I must return it, often with interest.

However, let's think about it. We realize that what keeps our lives humane is not economic logic but the logic of love and gratuitousness. What warms our hearts and gives vitality to our lives are minor considerations, small concerns, and small words from the heart. They do not cost money, but they have the power to make people happy, heal the wounded, and bring them back to life. What makes us human is love and giving with a pure heart without expecting anything in return.

This is also connected to our relationship with God. As we grow older, we become weaker and less capable of doing things and must rely on others. When we see ourselves becoming useless little by little, we lose our motivation and become depressed. However, God never judges us by our usefulness. Instead, God values ​​our lives because we are his sons and daughters. He blesses our complicated lives and washes away our lives stained with sin. 

Perhaps, as we experience being useless, we can yearn for God's love more. We can gain eyes that can better perceive what God is doing. God needs useless people because He can work with greater power in them. Those who consider themselves useful cannot open their hearts to that extent. Those who recognize their uselessness are always open to God and willingly share and give what little they have. This is why God loves useless people.

The Usefulness of Uselessness. Isn't this the value we, who live today's complicated life, should open our eyes to? We are not valuable because we are useful but because we belong to his creation. Then, can't we now look at everything around us with a new perspective and try to see through God's eyes? 

Synodality in the Military

Both Catholic Papers had articles on the military and Synodality. The following are briefly some of the points that were made in the articles.

The Military Ordinariate was the first among the dioceses nationwide to hold a ‘parish priests’ meeting for the Synod.’ The 100-member military priests pledged to practice ‘a journey together’ (Synodalitas) as a faith community that responds to the spirit of the church and the demands of the times in the special and complex pastoral environment of the military.

At the meeting in one of the dioceses, the priests achieved dialogue (discernment) in the Holy Spirit through meditation and reflection. They acquired the ‘attitude for listening and dialogue’ presented in the Synod Handbook. They had a spiritual conversation with a heart to learn from and serve each other, focusing on where the Holy Spirit led them.

What does it mean to practice fellowship, mission, and participation in a military organization based on hierarchical order? The priests shared their answers in the first theme group sharing, reflecting on ‘How should the church that realizes the spirit of Synodalitas move forward?’

“I believe that practicing Synodalitas in the military is not about giving unilateral orders, but rather a process of discovering the ‘joy of being together.’ The power of fellowship comes from conversations and cooperation that go beyond the division of roles.”

Another article mentioned the meeting in Rome last year on the Synod. “At that time, none of the 193 priests from 99 countries were elites of the church,” and “Pope Francis also listened to and encouraged the words of ordinary priests and told priests to listen to the voices of the faithful and live Synodalitas."

The priests who participated in the meeting were divided into 10 groups and discussed the priests’ attitude toward Synodalitas. They used an hourglass to prevent abuse and monopolization of the conversation. They also had a time of meditation to record the stories that came up during the conversation. During the group discussion, the priests in charge of military chaplaincy shared their grievances. One priest confessed, “When I had to focus on training as a soldier rather than church ministry, I sometimes felt confused about my identity as a ‘military chaplain’ or a ‘priest chaplain.’”

Nevertheless, the priests shared in-depth discussions such as, “We need to put down our sense of authority and listen to develop our ministry” and “We need to get closer to the soldiers.” One priest said, “We have been used to talking more than listening,” and “Reviving the attitude of empathy and listening with  our hearts will become true synodalitas.”

Nevertheless, many military chaplains doubted whether they could realize the synod spirit while serving in the military chaplaincy. Demonstrating the synod spirit is difficult in the special military field, where hierarchy is important.

After completing the group discussion, the priests experienced the meaning of conversation between senior and junior priests in the military chaplaincy and hoped that such synod meetings would continue. One  priest  said: “I hope there will be more opportunities for senior and junior priests to talk in a horizontal relationship.”

The Vicar General of the Military Ordinariate said, “We organized the annual general meeting in the form of a synodal format so that the priests of the Military Ordinariate can acquire the synodal spirit of listening and dialogue,” and added, “I hope that they can feel and share how the Holy Spirit approaches them while listening to each other.”