CBCK News
2009-08-24 12:25
2009-08-24 12:25
8,179
Communications on Jul. 26, 2002
* Church Criticizes ‘Life Ethics Bill’ of Government as De Facto Permission for Cloning of Human Embryos

A draft on 'life ethics bill', recently prepared by the Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Health & Welfare of Korean Government, provoked serious opposition of the religion circle including the Catholic Church in Korea and other civic groups. They are criticizing the draft as actually paving the way for cloning of human embryos, rather than completely banning it.
In the wake of this, on July 22 the Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok, President of the Committee for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Bioethics Committee of the CBCK, issued a statement titled "Opposition to Legislation Permitting Human Embryo Cloning", to make clear the Church's position. He expressed "great concern over cloning of human embryos by means of transplantation of somatic cell nuclear, which is now promoted by certain life scientists and some parts of Government."
"We hope the Life Ethics Law will not become an evil law of anti-life characteristic which violates the dignity of human being and endangers the human life by permitting the cloning of human embryos," the statement said.
The Bioethics Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul pointed out that as far as life ethics is concerned the situation in Korea can be said as "wild state without law." The Committee reaffirmed the opposition of the Church to the activities violating the dignity of human life such as human cloning, artificial hybrid fertilization between human beings and animals, production, research and utilization of human embryo and gene therapy.
Earlier than this, the Center for Democracy in Science, under the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, an influential civic group in Korea, also criticized this draft in its statement issued on July 19, saying, "this draft far lags behind the draft presented by religion and civic groups and is equivalent to actual permission for cloning of human embryos for research, while disregarding social consensus."
The draft of "Bill of the Ban on Human Cloning and the Research on Stem Cells" published on July 18 by the Ministry of Science & Technology does not clearly specify the ban on cloning of somatic cell embryos and hybrid fertilization.
The Ministry of Health & Welfare assumed the opposition to cloning of somatic cells at the public hearing on July 15, but in fact they presented a draft to the Office for Government Policy Coordination which stipulates that the research on cloning of somatic cell embryos shall be deliberated by the "National Advisory Committee for Bioethics", which is to be newly established.


* Amnesty International Korean Section to Conduct a Campaign for Commutation of Death Penalty to Life Imprisonment

On July 18 Amnesty International Korean Section initiated a campaign for commutation of the death penalty to life imprisonment, which will last until December. It aims at commutation of some 60 condemned prisoners in Korea.
The campaign will include activities such as presentation of "Special Bill for Abolition of Death Penalty" to the National Assembly; enhancement of social awareness toward the abolition of death penalty and of respect for human life; sending petitions by fax to President and Minister of Justice to grant amnesty to the condemned prisoners on Korean Independence Day, August 15; movement for implementation of commutation at year-end amnesty; asking the candidates for presidential election to make abolition of death penalty one of their election promises, etc.
They also revealed the letter to President Kim Dae-jung, asking him to take actions for abolition of death penalty and to join the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(B Covenant).
In addition, they asked the Korean Human Rights Commission to open to the public the list of the condemned prisoners and their situation and to recognize death penalty as a crime of violation of human rights and recommend the Constitutional Court, the National Assembly, the Ministry of Legislation, and the Ministry of Justice of Korea to abolish the death penalty.


* The Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il Nominated as Bishop of Cheju

On Saturday July 20, the Holy Father nominated Bishop Peter Kang U-il, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul, as Bishop of Cheju(area 1,846km2, population 547,964, Catholics 54,550, priests 35, parish 23, men religious 9, women religious 103, seminarians 17).
He will succeed the Most Rev. Paul Kim Chang-ryol who retires on reaching the age of 75 in accordance with Can. 403 §1 and Can. 409, §1.
The news of the nomination of the new Bishop was welcomed with enthusiasm by the Diocese of Cheju that is in a dynamic stage of take-off for development following the celebration of its 100th anniversary of mission in 1999. The Diocese of Cheju is in full mood of preparation to welcome the new Bishop by making Novena and rehearsal of the liturgical chorus etc.
Also the Archdiocese of Seoul welcomed the news and congratulated Bishop Kang's nomination, saying, "he is a man of high virtue and knowledge. His varied experiences and administrations will serve greatly to the progress of the diocese."
At the press conference held right after the nomination Bishop Kang said, "as a man of the Church, I am ready to commit myself fully to the mission that the Church entrusted to me for people of God," and added "I will make all possible efforts to be close to the faithful of the Diocese of Cheju and live in communion with them."
"I know that Cheju Island having special aspect historically and geographically is a land of many unknown sufferings in the past and up to the modern history. I will see step by step what I can do for the people of Cheju. I'll be glad to contribute, with divine grace, to heal Cheju people from their pains and sufferings in the past. I want to learn and take time to get closer with local people through dialogue and in every day life. I want to listen to them first and as much as possible before drawing any pastoral plan up. I think that is the right order."
Regarding his pastoral vision for his new Diocese, he said, "I don't think that 2000-year long history of the Church can depend on solely one leader. To do one's best for the mission of the local Church while maintaining the pastoral goal of the universal Church is my principle. This will not change in any moment and any place."
Asked about his feeling for departing from the Archdiocese of Seoul, Bishop Kang said "my heart is full of thanksgivings to God and His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim and Archbishop Nicholas Cheong including the clergy, religious and all the faithful who helped me and collaborated with me for 16 years of service for the Archdiocese. I can say that one of my fruitful works I accomplished was training of lay leaders while developing the basic ecclesial community movement in early 1990s."
Regarding the synod of the Archdiocese of Seoul of which he worked as the president of preparative committee, Bishop Kang said "there is no doubt that the synod of the Archdiocese of Seoul is a lieu of new history of the Church in Korea and a great opportunity of its renewal. Success of the synod will depend on the participation of the faithful. When the synod becomes 'a journey together', it will bear good fruit. So, I expect active participation of all."
The Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il was born in Seoul in 1945 and ordained to the priesthood in 1974 in Seoul after graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo (master's degree in philosophy) and Pontificia Universita Urbaniana in Rome (master's degree in theology) in 1973. Since then he served as parochial vicar at Chungnim-dong parish and Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul; as secretary to the Archbishop of Seoul; as director of education and social Communication department of the Archdiocese of Seoul; as consulter of the Archdiocese of Seoul; member of the presbyterial council; pastor of Nangok-dong parish.
On December 21, 1985 he was nominated as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Titular See of Balecio and was consecrated as Bishop in February 14, 1986. Since then he served as president of the Committee for Liturgy of the CBCK from 1987-1996; as the first President of the Catholic University of Seoul from Feb. 1995-1998; from Oct. 1999 he is a member of the permanent council of the CBCK and president of the Episcopal Commission for Mission & Pastoral and the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the CBCK. From December 2001 and to the present he has served as the General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Director of the Diocesan Office.


* Pastoral Plan for 5-Day Workweek Era Sought

What will be the impact of 5-day workweek to the Catholic Church and what will be the pastoral plan to respond to it appropriately? Such is the common subject of conversation of these days while the enactment of the 5-day workweek system is drawing near.
On July 20, the Pastoral Institute of Korea and the Catholic Times jointly held an academic forum with a theme of "5-day workweek system and Catholic Church" at Myongdong Cultural Center.
The Most Rev. Michael Pak, Bishop of Masan and President of the CBCK, remarked in his keynote address that "the 5-day workweek and 5-day school week are like rough waves that will bring a serious social and cultural changes" and added "in this juncture the Church has to be lucid in keeping the balance of the Christian life in order to plow through the waves."
In the meantime the Most Rev. Giovanni Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, in his congratulatory address presented documents and teachings of the Church on labor and sanctification of Lord's Day and said "our faith has been the key of interpretation and solution in the history of humanity, and this has not proposed technical way of solution but it did present spiritual and religious way of solution, and this brought progress of people's life and protected the family and promote our spirit through harmonious and integral development of the humanity."