Communications on May. 10, 2002
* A Congratulatory Message to Buddhist Friends for the Feast of Buddha's Birthday 2002
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Inchon, President of the Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue of the CBCK, addressed to Korean Buddhists a congratulatory message on the occasion of the feast of Buddha's Birthday on May 19 and invited both Catholics and Buddhists to reinforce their friendship and close cooperation to realize their common goal.
In the meantime, His Eminence Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, stressed on the need of collaboration of the two religions to fight against 'culture of death' and build a 'culture of life' in his congratulatory message to all Buddhist friends in the world that he issued on the occasion of the feast of Vesakh. Following is the full text of the congratulatory message of the Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san to Korean Buddhists.
On the occasion of the feast of Buddha's Birthday 2002 we offer our hearty congratulations to all Korean Buddhists and pray that the mercy and compassion of Buddha may be granted abundantly to each of his followers.
The Catholic Church has wonderfully expressed in regard of Buddhism at the Ecumenical Council of Vatican II: "Buddhism in its multiple forms acknowledges the radical insufficiency of this shifting world and it teaches a path by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, can either reach a state of absolute freedom or attain supreme enlightenment." And the Council affirmed that "Catholic Church rejects nothing which is true and holy in other religions."”
Based on this understanding the Catholics and Buddhists have built up friendship and collaborating relationship. We the Catholics know well that the Buddhism has several thousand years of history and throughout this history it has made a significant effort for a more peaceful and flourishing world for our people. Also, we highly recognize the contribution of Buddhism in promoting our culture so that our descendents can be proud of the nobility of their culture in the world.
On this occasion of Buddha's Birthday we wish that our two religions walk together on the way of truth to enlighten the people and build a society of beauty and well-being by consolidating our friendly relationship and collaboration we have built up to the present. In our world the material values are predominant while the spiritual values are declining more and more. Thus, as the spiritual leaders, we should unite our efforts to awake the spiritual value in the world and to promote love and respect for the poor and suffering people. This may bring about hope and blessing to our people and nation.
Once again, we pray for abundant compassion and mercy of Buddha be granted to each of you.
May 19, 2002
On Buddha's Birthday
+ Boniface Choi Ki-san
President
Committee for Promoting
Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue
* Korean Church History Distorted by Some Historians
As some Catholic universities in Europe instill students an opinion that the Catholic Church in Korea was established by Western Jesuit clerics in Japan during Im-jin-wae-ran(Japanese invasion to Korea in 1592) and some Japanese scholars insist the birth of Church in Korea be connected with the history of their Kirisitan(Christian) Church, it seems necessary for the Catholic Church in Korea to respond to and correct such distorted opinions appropriately.
What is more serious is that the Pontifical Gregorian University plays the leading role to distribute such a perspective. Among those who maintain this theory are Rev. Jesus Lopez Guain, dean of College of Mission, and the late Rev. Jean Louis de Medina who passed away last year.
They reportedly asserted, "the opinion that the Church in Korea was initiated by the Korean laity, without the help of foreign missionaries, is a modern fiction invented by minorities in the Church who intended to spread groundless nationalism."
Rev. Andrew Jeon Su-hong who had studied at Pontifical Gregorian University and currently is a professor at Catholic University of Busan said, "not only in Rome but in almost entire Europe the theory has been accepted that the Catholic Church in Korea was established by Jesuit priests in Japan during the invasion in 1592. Even L'Osservatore Romano, the official newspaper of the Holy See, published such an opinion in 1992 in it: "Special Feature - the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the Church in Korea".
Rev. Albert Kim Gi-man, Director of the Research Institute for Korean Church History under the Catholic University of Daejeon, said, "such an opinion in fact is widely spread in Europe and accepted as truth by some Japanese scholars", and "it is necessary for Korean researchers to academically respond by carefully studying documents of those days".
Dr. Eusebius Lee Won-sun, Advisor of the Research Institute of Korean Church History, affirmed, "as the Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Korea in 1984, said that the Catholic Church in Korea was established in 1784, it is true that Korean Catholic Community is the unique Church in the world set up by the laity not by foreign missionaries" and "Jesuit Father Cespedes's baptizing Korean prisoners during Im-jin-wae-ran cannot be considered as the initiation of the Church in Korea but a part of Japanese Church History."
* The First Korean Commentary Book on Bible Selected as One of '100 Korean Cultural Heritages'
Seong-gyeong-jik-hae(meaning 'interpretation on the Bible'), a Korean book through which early Korean Catholics first encountered the Word of God, was selected as one of '100 Korean Cultural Heritages' by Ministry of Culture & Tourism of Korean Government on April 29.
The Ministry explained that the book was selected "because of its historical significance as the first Korean translation of Bible and faith material for the common people."
For the purpose of re-illuminating the value of Korean languages, the Ministry selected 100 Korean-related materials including old books, printed materials, and obsolete languages and characters.
Besides this book, there are other religious books, one from the Protestant Church and 15 from Buddhism.
Seong-gyeong-jik-hae is a bounded book of a commentary and meditation on Sunday Gospel readings that John Choi Chang-hyun, martyr of Shinyu persecution(1801) in 1784, right after the Catholicism was introduced, made by combining the Korean translation of Seong-gyeong-jik-hae published by Fr. Diaz, S.J., a Portuguese missionary(1574-1659), in Beijing in 1636 and Seong-gyeong-gwang-ik published in 1740. The book greatly affected the spirituality of early Korean Catholic who suffered from persecutions. Being handed down as transcription, it was published in nine volumes of printed books in 1892 by the Most Rev. Mutel, the 8th Bishop of Joseon(Apostolic Vicariate).
* Subcommittee for Environment of the CBCK to Initiate Environmental Campaigns in Cooperation with Government Body
The Subcommittee for Environment under the Committee for Justice & Peace of the CBCK is to develop campaigns for saving water and reducing food wastes in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Korean Government.
On May 1, Rev. Paul Lee Chang-young, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Justice & Peace of the CBCK, and Environment Minister Helena Kim Myeong-ja agreed to cooperate each other in developing these campaigns, under a mutual understanding that practical movements in daily life should be come first for preservation of environment.
Hence, the Subcommittee plans to distribute publicity materials and induce the faithful to actively participate in the campaigns. Besides, it will positively collaborate with the Ministry in developing 'Green World Cup' movement, and for this purpose will arrange a national joint meeting of pastoral workers in environmental section of each diocese in late May.
The Minister said, "2002 World Cup is an unique opportunity not only for letting the world know about Korea but also for elevating our environmental consciousness," so hoped "Catholics can have the initiatives in environmental movements."
* Diocese of Pusan to Establish Family Blessing Letter
As the Korean Catholics celebrate the month of May as Month of Mary and the Korean people as Month of family, the Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo announced the establishment of the Family Blessing Letter for his diocese with purpose to awake the importance of Family that is the foundation of evangelization, and to promote the value of family.
The Letter is granted to family of profound faith where three generations live together and having more than three children.
The first Family Blessing Letter was granted to 28 families in 27 parishes on May 4.
* Catholic Business People of Namdaemun Launch 5-second Smile Campaign
With initiative of Namdaemun Market Parish, the Catholic business people of Namdaemun Market, downtown Seoul, launched 5-second Smile Campaign.
Banners and stickers written with words like "5-second smile campaign - Catholic Namdaemun Market Parish" are placed here and there in throughout the market.
The campaign's goal is to create a friendly environment in Namdaemun Market by smile of Catholic merchants.
"Welcoming the customers with smile always is our normal attitude, however, we are often irritated and impatient. We try to be nice with everybody but it is not easy when we are tired. Sometime, we are nasty unintentionally. But since we started the 5-second smile campaign and put stickers on my shop doors and walls I pay more attention to be kind with everybody. That helps me for sure!" said Maria Park Yun-ok.
"If our smile can make our life environment a little more joyful and friendly your smile is light that lights up dark world," said Rev. Peter Lee Seong-won, Pastor of Namdaemun Market Parish, and added "we distribute stickers to non-Catholic merchants by inviting them to join our campaign, and we had good feedbacks so far."
* One Man Anti-abortion Prayer Campaign
Mr. Joseph Kim Seon-o, from Yongam-dong Parish in Cheongju goes everyday around the obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Cheongju city to make anti-abortion prayers since last September.
"Anti-abortion prayer campaign is of my personal initiative as sign of conversion and repentance of my past. My wife aborted two babies before I became a Catholic in 1994. In that time the abortion was tacitly accepted and we did it without any sense of guilt. I raised three sons and two daughters and I'm a good father of them. However, since I was baptized in the Catholic Church, in my conscience, I suffer terribly from this indelible disgrace I committed in the past," Kim said.
"There was another opportunity that stimulated me to repent my big sin. In 2000, I participated to the inauguration ceremony of 'Embryos' mound' built in the compound of Kkotdongnae to commemorate 4000 innocent unborn babies who are killed everyday by abortion. This was the start of my deep understanding about what the abortion is about. I took resolution to repent my sin." Kim said.
Everyday he takes two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon to visit one or two gynecology clinics in Cheongju. He stands alone at the entrance of the clinic and pray for mothers who are tempted to abort their baby and for surgeons who are tempted to perform the abortion.
"In the beginning people looked at me with curiosity and unsympathetic eyes which made me afraid but now I don't mind that. I don't care what people would think about me provided they understand that abortion is a terrible sin and murder. I completed first tour of 38 clinics in two month and half with slogan 'Let's protect life' and now I started second tour. My slogan is 'An embryo is also human life.'"
Besides the anti-abortion prayer campaign he is involved in telephone counseling for sex education for the youth, hospice work at St. Mary's Hospital of Cheongju and haircutter service to elderly and handicapped people etc.
"With my busy activities I have no time to get aged," said Kim, 72-year old pro-life apostle.
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Inchon, President of the Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue of the CBCK, addressed to Korean Buddhists a congratulatory message on the occasion of the feast of Buddha's Birthday on May 19 and invited both Catholics and Buddhists to reinforce their friendship and close cooperation to realize their common goal.
In the meantime, His Eminence Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, stressed on the need of collaboration of the two religions to fight against 'culture of death' and build a 'culture of life' in his congratulatory message to all Buddhist friends in the world that he issued on the occasion of the feast of Vesakh. Following is the full text of the congratulatory message of the Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san to Korean Buddhists.
On the occasion of the feast of Buddha's Birthday 2002 we offer our hearty congratulations to all Korean Buddhists and pray that the mercy and compassion of Buddha may be granted abundantly to each of his followers.
The Catholic Church has wonderfully expressed in regard of Buddhism at the Ecumenical Council of Vatican II: "Buddhism in its multiple forms acknowledges the radical insufficiency of this shifting world and it teaches a path by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, can either reach a state of absolute freedom or attain supreme enlightenment." And the Council affirmed that "Catholic Church rejects nothing which is true and holy in other religions."”
Based on this understanding the Catholics and Buddhists have built up friendship and collaborating relationship. We the Catholics know well that the Buddhism has several thousand years of history and throughout this history it has made a significant effort for a more peaceful and flourishing world for our people. Also, we highly recognize the contribution of Buddhism in promoting our culture so that our descendents can be proud of the nobility of their culture in the world.
On this occasion of Buddha's Birthday we wish that our two religions walk together on the way of truth to enlighten the people and build a society of beauty and well-being by consolidating our friendly relationship and collaboration we have built up to the present. In our world the material values are predominant while the spiritual values are declining more and more. Thus, as the spiritual leaders, we should unite our efforts to awake the spiritual value in the world and to promote love and respect for the poor and suffering people. This may bring about hope and blessing to our people and nation.
Once again, we pray for abundant compassion and mercy of Buddha be granted to each of you.
May 19, 2002
On Buddha's Birthday
+ Boniface Choi Ki-san
President
Committee for Promoting
Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue
* Korean Church History Distorted by Some Historians
As some Catholic universities in Europe instill students an opinion that the Catholic Church in Korea was established by Western Jesuit clerics in Japan during Im-jin-wae-ran(Japanese invasion to Korea in 1592) and some Japanese scholars insist the birth of Church in Korea be connected with the history of their Kirisitan(Christian) Church, it seems necessary for the Catholic Church in Korea to respond to and correct such distorted opinions appropriately.
What is more serious is that the Pontifical Gregorian University plays the leading role to distribute such a perspective. Among those who maintain this theory are Rev. Jesus Lopez Guain, dean of College of Mission, and the late Rev. Jean Louis de Medina who passed away last year.
They reportedly asserted, "the opinion that the Church in Korea was initiated by the Korean laity, without the help of foreign missionaries, is a modern fiction invented by minorities in the Church who intended to spread groundless nationalism."
Rev. Andrew Jeon Su-hong who had studied at Pontifical Gregorian University and currently is a professor at Catholic University of Busan said, "not only in Rome but in almost entire Europe the theory has been accepted that the Catholic Church in Korea was established by Jesuit priests in Japan during the invasion in 1592. Even L'Osservatore Romano, the official newspaper of the Holy See, published such an opinion in 1992 in it: "Special Feature - the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the Church in Korea".
Rev. Albert Kim Gi-man, Director of the Research Institute for Korean Church History under the Catholic University of Daejeon, said, "such an opinion in fact is widely spread in Europe and accepted as truth by some Japanese scholars", and "it is necessary for Korean researchers to academically respond by carefully studying documents of those days".
Dr. Eusebius Lee Won-sun, Advisor of the Research Institute of Korean Church History, affirmed, "as the Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Korea in 1984, said that the Catholic Church in Korea was established in 1784, it is true that Korean Catholic Community is the unique Church in the world set up by the laity not by foreign missionaries" and "Jesuit Father Cespedes's baptizing Korean prisoners during Im-jin-wae-ran cannot be considered as the initiation of the Church in Korea but a part of Japanese Church History."
* The First Korean Commentary Book on Bible Selected as One of '100 Korean Cultural Heritages'
Seong-gyeong-jik-hae(meaning 'interpretation on the Bible'), a Korean book through which early Korean Catholics first encountered the Word of God, was selected as one of '100 Korean Cultural Heritages' by Ministry of Culture & Tourism of Korean Government on April 29.
The Ministry explained that the book was selected "because of its historical significance as the first Korean translation of Bible and faith material for the common people."
For the purpose of re-illuminating the value of Korean languages, the Ministry selected 100 Korean-related materials including old books, printed materials, and obsolete languages and characters.
Besides this book, there are other religious books, one from the Protestant Church and 15 from Buddhism.
Seong-gyeong-jik-hae is a bounded book of a commentary and meditation on Sunday Gospel readings that John Choi Chang-hyun, martyr of Shinyu persecution(1801) in 1784, right after the Catholicism was introduced, made by combining the Korean translation of Seong-gyeong-jik-hae published by Fr. Diaz, S.J., a Portuguese missionary(1574-1659), in Beijing in 1636 and Seong-gyeong-gwang-ik published in 1740. The book greatly affected the spirituality of early Korean Catholic who suffered from persecutions. Being handed down as transcription, it was published in nine volumes of printed books in 1892 by the Most Rev. Mutel, the 8th Bishop of Joseon(Apostolic Vicariate).
* Subcommittee for Environment of the CBCK to Initiate Environmental Campaigns in Cooperation with Government Body
The Subcommittee for Environment under the Committee for Justice & Peace of the CBCK is to develop campaigns for saving water and reducing food wastes in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Korean Government.
On May 1, Rev. Paul Lee Chang-young, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Justice & Peace of the CBCK, and Environment Minister Helena Kim Myeong-ja agreed to cooperate each other in developing these campaigns, under a mutual understanding that practical movements in daily life should be come first for preservation of environment.
Hence, the Subcommittee plans to distribute publicity materials and induce the faithful to actively participate in the campaigns. Besides, it will positively collaborate with the Ministry in developing 'Green World Cup' movement, and for this purpose will arrange a national joint meeting of pastoral workers in environmental section of each diocese in late May.
The Minister said, "2002 World Cup is an unique opportunity not only for letting the world know about Korea but also for elevating our environmental consciousness," so hoped "Catholics can have the initiatives in environmental movements."
* Diocese of Pusan to Establish Family Blessing Letter
As the Korean Catholics celebrate the month of May as Month of Mary and the Korean people as Month of family, the Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo announced the establishment of the Family Blessing Letter for his diocese with purpose to awake the importance of Family that is the foundation of evangelization, and to promote the value of family.
The Letter is granted to family of profound faith where three generations live together and having more than three children.
The first Family Blessing Letter was granted to 28 families in 27 parishes on May 4.
* Catholic Business People of Namdaemun Launch 5-second Smile Campaign
With initiative of Namdaemun Market Parish, the Catholic business people of Namdaemun Market, downtown Seoul, launched 5-second Smile Campaign.
Banners and stickers written with words like "5-second smile campaign - Catholic Namdaemun Market Parish" are placed here and there in throughout the market.
The campaign's goal is to create a friendly environment in Namdaemun Market by smile of Catholic merchants.
"Welcoming the customers with smile always is our normal attitude, however, we are often irritated and impatient. We try to be nice with everybody but it is not easy when we are tired. Sometime, we are nasty unintentionally. But since we started the 5-second smile campaign and put stickers on my shop doors and walls I pay more attention to be kind with everybody. That helps me for sure!" said Maria Park Yun-ok.
"If our smile can make our life environment a little more joyful and friendly your smile is light that lights up dark world," said Rev. Peter Lee Seong-won, Pastor of Namdaemun Market Parish, and added "we distribute stickers to non-Catholic merchants by inviting them to join our campaign, and we had good feedbacks so far."
* One Man Anti-abortion Prayer Campaign
Mr. Joseph Kim Seon-o, from Yongam-dong Parish in Cheongju goes everyday around the obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Cheongju city to make anti-abortion prayers since last September.
"Anti-abortion prayer campaign is of my personal initiative as sign of conversion and repentance of my past. My wife aborted two babies before I became a Catholic in 1994. In that time the abortion was tacitly accepted and we did it without any sense of guilt. I raised three sons and two daughters and I'm a good father of them. However, since I was baptized in the Catholic Church, in my conscience, I suffer terribly from this indelible disgrace I committed in the past," Kim said.
"There was another opportunity that stimulated me to repent my big sin. In 2000, I participated to the inauguration ceremony of 'Embryos' mound' built in the compound of Kkotdongnae to commemorate 4000 innocent unborn babies who are killed everyday by abortion. This was the start of my deep understanding about what the abortion is about. I took resolution to repent my sin." Kim said.
Everyday he takes two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon to visit one or two gynecology clinics in Cheongju. He stands alone at the entrance of the clinic and pray for mothers who are tempted to abort their baby and for surgeons who are tempted to perform the abortion.
"In the beginning people looked at me with curiosity and unsympathetic eyes which made me afraid but now I don't mind that. I don't care what people would think about me provided they understand that abortion is a terrible sin and murder. I completed first tour of 38 clinics in two month and half with slogan 'Let's protect life' and now I started second tour. My slogan is 'An embryo is also human life.'"
Besides the anti-abortion prayer campaign he is involved in telephone counseling for sex education for the youth, hospice work at St. Mary's Hospital of Cheongju and haircutter service to elderly and handicapped people etc.
"With my busy activities I have no time to get aged," said Kim, 72-year old pro-life apostle.