Communications on Oct. 25, 2002
* The CBCK Held the 2002 Autumn General Assembly
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held the 2002 Autumn General Assembly from October 14 to 17.
At the meeting, the Bishops elected the Most Rev. Andrew Choi Chang-mou as new President, the Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo as Vice President and the Most Rev. John Chang Yik, as Secretary Bishop of the CBCK. Rev. Casimir Song Yul-sup was appointed as Secretary General.
Besides, the Bishops decided to support the Catholic Doctrine Correspondence Course as a part of animating correspondence catechesis and to publish the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Korea as a local adaptation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to help the understanding of the general Catholics.
And such social issues as "five-day workweek system" and "foreign workers from other Asian conntries" were discussed as well and the Bishops agreed to seek for appropriate pastoral counterplans more positively by examining the study results of each diocese.
The Bishops also discussed communal confession and general absolution and agreed on the opinion of the Committee for Liturgy of the CBCK that the Can. 961. is sufficient for the situation of Korea and decided to report it to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
* Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-mou Elected to the New President of the CBCK
"The Bishops' Conference is a 'conference'. Therefore I'll try to serve for promotion and animation of each Committee of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Korea(CBCK) and good administration of the Catholic Conference of Korea(CCK). Also, during my term, I want to focus on the reconciliation and unity of Korean people and the realization of justice and peace in our society through 'forgiveness and reconciliation.'"
The Most Rev. Andrew Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju, who was elected to the President of the CBCK at the 2002 Autumn General Assembly of the CBCK held from Oct. 14 to 17, said at the press conference that he will try to proclaim faithfully the universal truth and unchangeable values of the Catholic Church in every sphere of the society of the rapidly changing world situation of the 21st century.
Regarding the North Korean nuke program, Archbishop Choi said, "as the cold weather even after the first day of spring is also a passage to the spring, this particular time requires political and social approach and dialogue based on patience and tolerance."
"First of all, we should change the attitude that we should convince the other party. We will try to provide, keeping a middle way which is neither pro-South nor pro-North, a lieu of dialogue and sharing so that people of the both Koreas can freely and sincerely exchange opinions in a mutual respect and with open heart. We will carry out prayer movement," he said.
Regarding the issue of the bioethics the newly elected President of the CBCK made clear his position, saying, "the Church will take a resolute stand against any point when it is opposed to the faith."
Regarding various challenges followed by the change of the Korean society the Archbishop said, "the Church will focus on proclamation of the universal truth and unchangeable values of the Catholic Church to the Korean society," and added for the political matter "the Church will not support a specific party, but, she will criticize when the political policy is against the faith."
The Archbishop who repeatedly emphasized on the unity and communion of the CBCK and his role for it said that one of significant event during his term will be hosting the general assembly of the FABC in 2004.
The Most Rev. Andrew Choi Chang-mou was ordained a priest in 1963 in Freiburg, Germany, and obtained doctorate in moral theology in the Freiburg University in 1969. He taught moral theology at the Catholic University of Seoul from 1970 until he was ordained Bishop and became Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul in 1994. While he was in office he established the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the School of the Reconciliation of Korean People. He was the first Bishop who made a pastoral visit to the Church in North Korea. In 1999, the Holy Father John Paul II nominated him to Coadjutor Archbishop of Kwangju and he succeeded to the Archbishop of Kwangju in 2000.
* First Korean Apostolic Nuncio Appointed
The Pope John Paul II appointed Very Rev. Msgr. Paul Tschang In-nam, first councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Belgium, as Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh and titular Archbishop of Amanzia as of Oct. 19, 2002.
He is the first Korean to be appointed as an Apostolic Nuncio.
The Archbishop-designate Tschang who has worked as diplomat for 18 years accepted it with gratitude, saying, "I think it is Lord's blessing for the Catholic Church in Korea."
He was born in Cheongju in 1949 and ordained a priest on Dec. 17, 1976, after graduating from the Catholic University of Gwangju. Having served as parochial Vicar in a parish in Cheongju and as undersecretary of the CBCK, he left for Rome in 1979 for studying, where he obtained a doctorate in dogmatic theology at Pontifical Lateran University in 1985.
In 1985 he started his career as a diplomat, second secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in El Salvador. After holding various posts such as first secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ethiopia and in Syria, second councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in France, first councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Greece, he has been first councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Belgium since Aug. 2000.
* The 24th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II to the Papacy Celebrated
The 24th anniversary of Pope John Paul II to the Papacy was celebrated at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Oct. 15.
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, and the Bishops of the CBCK concelebrated Holy Mass for the 24th anniversary of Pope John Paul II for his election to the See of St. Peter in presence of diplomatic delegates and some 500 Catholics.
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, in his homily, asked the participants to pray for the Pope, saying, "despite of his age and infirmity the Holy Father is working hard for the salvation of the world and has a special affection for Korean people", and urged them "to become Christians, following his example, who bear witness of divine peace and hope to the humanity immerged in an atheistic materialism."
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, in his congratulatory address, said, "Holy Father is concerned about the Korean peninsula to the point that he made the 'Reconciliation of Korean people' the Missionary Prayer Intention of Sep. 2002," and invited the participants "to return his love by working for unity of Korea and fulfilling our Christian duties."
Meantime, President Kim Dae-jung sent congratulatory message to the Holy Father and asked Him to pray for peace and security of the Korean peninsula and His continual support for the Sunshine Policy toward North Korea.
* Bishop of Inchon Issues a Pastoral Letter, "Abortion is Murder"
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Inchon, issued a pastoral letter titled "Abortion is Murder" on October 18, to counteract the serious reality of abortion that claims 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 unborn lives annually.
He said in his letter, "we are regretful that our voice opposing to the abortion has not been loud enough. We feel indignant over the massacre of 6,000,000 Jewish people by Germans, but tend to close our eyes to the reality of our society where parents and doctors kill the same number of children with it in three years," and emphasized, "if we were murders or onlookers of murder committed to unborn lives, we should deeply regret and try to correct it."
"In the first place, I recommend pastors to continuously enlighten the faithful about the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding abortion," and stressed, "if pastors remain silent even in face of grave situation of abortion as they have done until now, the tendency of undervaluing human life will erode the consciences of the faithful. In this regard, we also need to positively seek for ways of pastoral care of those who have committed abortions."
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held the 2002 Autumn General Assembly from October 14 to 17.
At the meeting, the Bishops elected the Most Rev. Andrew Choi Chang-mou as new President, the Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo as Vice President and the Most Rev. John Chang Yik, as Secretary Bishop of the CBCK. Rev. Casimir Song Yul-sup was appointed as Secretary General.
Besides, the Bishops decided to support the Catholic Doctrine Correspondence Course as a part of animating correspondence catechesis and to publish the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Korea as a local adaptation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to help the understanding of the general Catholics.
And such social issues as "five-day workweek system" and "foreign workers from other Asian conntries" were discussed as well and the Bishops agreed to seek for appropriate pastoral counterplans more positively by examining the study results of each diocese.
The Bishops also discussed communal confession and general absolution and agreed on the opinion of the Committee for Liturgy of the CBCK that the Can. 961. is sufficient for the situation of Korea and decided to report it to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
* Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-mou Elected to the New President of the CBCK
"The Bishops' Conference is a 'conference'. Therefore I'll try to serve for promotion and animation of each Committee of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Korea(CBCK) and good administration of the Catholic Conference of Korea(CCK). Also, during my term, I want to focus on the reconciliation and unity of Korean people and the realization of justice and peace in our society through 'forgiveness and reconciliation.'"
The Most Rev. Andrew Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju, who was elected to the President of the CBCK at the 2002 Autumn General Assembly of the CBCK held from Oct. 14 to 17, said at the press conference that he will try to proclaim faithfully the universal truth and unchangeable values of the Catholic Church in every sphere of the society of the rapidly changing world situation of the 21st century.
Regarding the North Korean nuke program, Archbishop Choi said, "as the cold weather even after the first day of spring is also a passage to the spring, this particular time requires political and social approach and dialogue based on patience and tolerance."
"First of all, we should change the attitude that we should convince the other party. We will try to provide, keeping a middle way which is neither pro-South nor pro-North, a lieu of dialogue and sharing so that people of the both Koreas can freely and sincerely exchange opinions in a mutual respect and with open heart. We will carry out prayer movement," he said.
Regarding the issue of the bioethics the newly elected President of the CBCK made clear his position, saying, "the Church will take a resolute stand against any point when it is opposed to the faith."
Regarding various challenges followed by the change of the Korean society the Archbishop said, "the Church will focus on proclamation of the universal truth and unchangeable values of the Catholic Church to the Korean society," and added for the political matter "the Church will not support a specific party, but, she will criticize when the political policy is against the faith."
The Archbishop who repeatedly emphasized on the unity and communion of the CBCK and his role for it said that one of significant event during his term will be hosting the general assembly of the FABC in 2004.
The Most Rev. Andrew Choi Chang-mou was ordained a priest in 1963 in Freiburg, Germany, and obtained doctorate in moral theology in the Freiburg University in 1969. He taught moral theology at the Catholic University of Seoul from 1970 until he was ordained Bishop and became Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul in 1994. While he was in office he established the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the School of the Reconciliation of Korean People. He was the first Bishop who made a pastoral visit to the Church in North Korea. In 1999, the Holy Father John Paul II nominated him to Coadjutor Archbishop of Kwangju and he succeeded to the Archbishop of Kwangju in 2000.
* First Korean Apostolic Nuncio Appointed
The Pope John Paul II appointed Very Rev. Msgr. Paul Tschang In-nam, first councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Belgium, as Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh and titular Archbishop of Amanzia as of Oct. 19, 2002.
He is the first Korean to be appointed as an Apostolic Nuncio.
The Archbishop-designate Tschang who has worked as diplomat for 18 years accepted it with gratitude, saying, "I think it is Lord's blessing for the Catholic Church in Korea."
He was born in Cheongju in 1949 and ordained a priest on Dec. 17, 1976, after graduating from the Catholic University of Gwangju. Having served as parochial Vicar in a parish in Cheongju and as undersecretary of the CBCK, he left for Rome in 1979 for studying, where he obtained a doctorate in dogmatic theology at Pontifical Lateran University in 1985.
In 1985 he started his career as a diplomat, second secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in El Salvador. After holding various posts such as first secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ethiopia and in Syria, second councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in France, first councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Greece, he has been first councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Belgium since Aug. 2000.
* The 24th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II to the Papacy Celebrated
The 24th anniversary of Pope John Paul II to the Papacy was celebrated at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Oct. 15.
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, and the Bishops of the CBCK concelebrated Holy Mass for the 24th anniversary of Pope John Paul II for his election to the See of St. Peter in presence of diplomatic delegates and some 500 Catholics.
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, in his homily, asked the participants to pray for the Pope, saying, "despite of his age and infirmity the Holy Father is working hard for the salvation of the world and has a special affection for Korean people", and urged them "to become Christians, following his example, who bear witness of divine peace and hope to the humanity immerged in an atheistic materialism."
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, in his congratulatory address, said, "Holy Father is concerned about the Korean peninsula to the point that he made the 'Reconciliation of Korean people' the Missionary Prayer Intention of Sep. 2002," and invited the participants "to return his love by working for unity of Korea and fulfilling our Christian duties."
Meantime, President Kim Dae-jung sent congratulatory message to the Holy Father and asked Him to pray for peace and security of the Korean peninsula and His continual support for the Sunshine Policy toward North Korea.
* Bishop of Inchon Issues a Pastoral Letter, "Abortion is Murder"
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Inchon, issued a pastoral letter titled "Abortion is Murder" on October 18, to counteract the serious reality of abortion that claims 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 unborn lives annually.
He said in his letter, "we are regretful that our voice opposing to the abortion has not been loud enough. We feel indignant over the massacre of 6,000,000 Jewish people by Germans, but tend to close our eyes to the reality of our society where parents and doctors kill the same number of children with it in three years," and emphasized, "if we were murders or onlookers of murder committed to unborn lives, we should deeply regret and try to correct it."
"In the first place, I recommend pastors to continuously enlighten the faithful about the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding abortion," and stressed, "if pastors remain silent even in face of grave situation of abortion as they have done until now, the tendency of undervaluing human life will erode the consciences of the faithful. In this regard, we also need to positively seek for ways of pastoral care of those who have committed abortions."