Communication on Oct. 17
* Korean Bishops Demand "Peaceful Solution" of North Korea's Nuke Program
The Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the CBCK(Pres.: Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo) issued a message titled "Peace to this land" on October 13 and appealed to all the people and religion leaders to cooperate for peace and peaceful way to solve the North Korea's nuke program.
The Commission pointed out in the message that "The nuclear threat of North Korea is too dangerous means to be used as a brinksmanship diplomatic tactics because the destiny of the entire Korean people is connected with it," and urged the participant countries in the six-way talks including the U.S.A. to be genuine peace builders through sincere dialogue and tolerance because peace cannot be built by arms."
The Commission made clear its negative position on the question of sending Korean troops to Iraq at the request of the U.S.A. and reaffirmed that only the order of God is the key to the peace not the logic of power.
The Commission identified "the essential conditions for peace in four precise requirements of the human spirit: truth, justice, love and freedom" (Pacem in Terris) referring to the Message for the 2003 World Day of Peace of Pope John Paul II and added that these four conditions for peace are committment we have to pursue today.
The Commission urged the faithful to be the first who practice true love that Christ has taught us on the Cross, and asked to pray for peace in accordance with the prayer intention of Holy Father.
The Commission has appealed to all the people and religions to realize peace on this land in respect and love based on "truth, justice, love and freedom" and work in solidarity with the spirit of mercy and charity, the common teachings of all religions.
* Catholics Voice against Troop Dispatch to Iraq
While opinions against South Korea's dispatching troops to Iraq are expanding across the country the Committee for Justice & Peace of some dioceses joined their voice.
The Committee for Justice & Peace of the Archdiocese of Kwangju launched, October 1, one-month signature collecting campaign to oppose sending R.O.K. troops to Iraq at the request of the U.S.A. and asked parishes, religious communities and organizations positive participation and hang up plancards written: "No Combat Troops to Iraq!", "Iraqi Sovereignty to Iraqi People", "Send Food and Medical Supplies to Iraq but Not Combat Troops" etc.
The Committee plans to issue an 'interreligious joint statement' to raise wide opinion against troop dispatch to Iraq.
In the meantime, the Committee for Justice & Peace of Inchon collected over 3,000 signatures in 10 days from September 21 and that of the Diocese of Cheongju formed a Joint Action to Oppose Troop Dispatch to Iraq with civic groups, and the similar campaigns are carried out in other dioceses.
On October 11, Korea People's Solidarity to Oppose Troop Dispatch to Iraq" formed with over 350 civic and religion groups rallied in Seoul with over 4,000 participants, and university students and professors are moving toward the same direction.
In early September, prominent Korean religious leaders including His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan called on President Roh Moo-hyun not to deploy combat troops to Iraq but proposed him to consider as an alternative dispatching non-combat troops to join the multinational force under the international flag of the U.N.
Cardinal Kim and Rev. Kang Won-yong of the Peace Forum, and Venerable Songwoljoo, former president emeritus of the Buddhist Chogye Order, came up with the recommendation during a luncheon meeting with Roh at Chong Wa Dae.
Roh said no decision has been made on the issue and that he would cautiously deal with the matter taking all factors into account.
* Korean Religion Leaders Regret Execution of Death Sentence by Japanese Government
For the first time Korean religion leaders took an official position on the execution of death sentence conducted in Japan.
On October 9, the Religious Federation for the Abolition of Capital Punishment, formed by the seven religions in Korea including the Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists, sent a Letter to the Minister of Justice of Japan and expressed deep concern about the execution of death sentence and urged respect the dignity of human being and human rights.
The Federation pointed out, in the Letter, that the secret execution of Mukai Shinji on September 12, 2003 by the Ministry of Justice of Japan is "a clear anti-life act and violation against human dignity" saying, "his lawyer was preparing an appeal for retrial when he was executed."
"The Korean believers in religions, opposing the death penalty, have great interest in the efforts of Japan to abolish the death penalty and feels in solidarity with anti-death penalty campaign," Korean religious leaders said and went on, "thereupon we hope and expect that Korea and Japan as advanced countries in Asia can lead the abolition of the death sentence and anti-life conduct."
Korean pan-religious leaders concluded the Letter wishing Japan to become a country that respects the dignity of human person and fundamental human rights by abolishing the capital punishment which is the first barometer of being advanced country.
The Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the CBCK(Pres.: Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo) issued a message titled "Peace to this land" on October 13 and appealed to all the people and religion leaders to cooperate for peace and peaceful way to solve the North Korea's nuke program.
The Commission pointed out in the message that "The nuclear threat of North Korea is too dangerous means to be used as a brinksmanship diplomatic tactics because the destiny of the entire Korean people is connected with it," and urged the participant countries in the six-way talks including the U.S.A. to be genuine peace builders through sincere dialogue and tolerance because peace cannot be built by arms."
The Commission made clear its negative position on the question of sending Korean troops to Iraq at the request of the U.S.A. and reaffirmed that only the order of God is the key to the peace not the logic of power.
The Commission identified "the essential conditions for peace in four precise requirements of the human spirit: truth, justice, love and freedom" (Pacem in Terris) referring to the Message for the 2003 World Day of Peace of Pope John Paul II and added that these four conditions for peace are committment we have to pursue today.
The Commission urged the faithful to be the first who practice true love that Christ has taught us on the Cross, and asked to pray for peace in accordance with the prayer intention of Holy Father.
The Commission has appealed to all the people and religions to realize peace on this land in respect and love based on "truth, justice, love and freedom" and work in solidarity with the spirit of mercy and charity, the common teachings of all religions.
* Catholics Voice against Troop Dispatch to Iraq
While opinions against South Korea's dispatching troops to Iraq are expanding across the country the Committee for Justice & Peace of some dioceses joined their voice.
The Committee for Justice & Peace of the Archdiocese of Kwangju launched, October 1, one-month signature collecting campaign to oppose sending R.O.K. troops to Iraq at the request of the U.S.A. and asked parishes, religious communities and organizations positive participation and hang up plancards written: "No Combat Troops to Iraq!", "Iraqi Sovereignty to Iraqi People", "Send Food and Medical Supplies to Iraq but Not Combat Troops" etc.
The Committee plans to issue an 'interreligious joint statement' to raise wide opinion against troop dispatch to Iraq.
In the meantime, the Committee for Justice & Peace of Inchon collected over 3,000 signatures in 10 days from September 21 and that of the Diocese of Cheongju formed a Joint Action to Oppose Troop Dispatch to Iraq with civic groups, and the similar campaigns are carried out in other dioceses.
On October 11, Korea People's Solidarity to Oppose Troop Dispatch to Iraq" formed with over 350 civic and religion groups rallied in Seoul with over 4,000 participants, and university students and professors are moving toward the same direction.
In early September, prominent Korean religious leaders including His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan called on President Roh Moo-hyun not to deploy combat troops to Iraq but proposed him to consider as an alternative dispatching non-combat troops to join the multinational force under the international flag of the U.N.
Cardinal Kim and Rev. Kang Won-yong of the Peace Forum, and Venerable Songwoljoo, former president emeritus of the Buddhist Chogye Order, came up with the recommendation during a luncheon meeting with Roh at Chong Wa Dae.
Roh said no decision has been made on the issue and that he would cautiously deal with the matter taking all factors into account.
* Korean Religion Leaders Regret Execution of Death Sentence by Japanese Government
For the first time Korean religion leaders took an official position on the execution of death sentence conducted in Japan.
On October 9, the Religious Federation for the Abolition of Capital Punishment, formed by the seven religions in Korea including the Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists, sent a Letter to the Minister of Justice of Japan and expressed deep concern about the execution of death sentence and urged respect the dignity of human being and human rights.
The Federation pointed out, in the Letter, that the secret execution of Mukai Shinji on September 12, 2003 by the Ministry of Justice of Japan is "a clear anti-life act and violation against human dignity" saying, "his lawyer was preparing an appeal for retrial when he was executed."
"The Korean believers in religions, opposing the death penalty, have great interest in the efforts of Japan to abolish the death penalty and feels in solidarity with anti-death penalty campaign," Korean religious leaders said and went on, "thereupon we hope and expect that Korea and Japan as advanced countries in Asia can lead the abolition of the death sentence and anti-life conduct."
Korean pan-religious leaders concluded the Letter wishing Japan to become a country that respects the dignity of human person and fundamental human rights by abolishing the capital punishment which is the first barometer of being advanced country.