Communication on Dec. 26
* "Church Should Practice the Option for the Poor," Says Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul
The Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, issued a special Message on December 28 titled "What Can We Do for 'New Poverty' in Korean Society?" and urged the faithful to pay attention to the problem of "new poverty" and look for countermeasures against it in preferential love for the poor and solidarity with them.
The Message was prepared from the result of a discussion held on December 12 with the sponsor of the Catholic Urban Poor Pastoral Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Korea Center for City and Environment Research and called for the Church's concern for the poor and poverty.
The Most Rev. Lucas Kim said in the Message, "Due to the widening gap between the rich and the poor, some part of our society sinks into the slough of poverty; for example, there are the homeless, poor children who have to play a role in the household, the old who live alone without family, the handicapped with low income, and those who have no house and live in poor condition."
"The phenomenon of new poverty emerged as a result of the new liberalistic economics, which was established after the currency crisis of Korea," he said.
He continued, "In the slough of despond, some 30 people abandon their own lives everyday," and asked, "However difficult the lives may be, never consider abandonment of life that God gave us! Instead, respect the life and have the courage to overcome the difficulties!"
"Both all Catholic educators and educators of good will should make efforts so that education can help students to build good personality and form sound or positive view values," he added.
The Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, issued a special Message on December 28 titled "What Can We Do for 'New Poverty' in Korean Society?" and urged the faithful to pay attention to the problem of "new poverty" and look for countermeasures against it in preferential love for the poor and solidarity with them.
The Message was prepared from the result of a discussion held on December 12 with the sponsor of the Catholic Urban Poor Pastoral Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Korea Center for City and Environment Research and called for the Church's concern for the poor and poverty.
The Most Rev. Lucas Kim said in the Message, "Due to the widening gap between the rich and the poor, some part of our society sinks into the slough of poverty; for example, there are the homeless, poor children who have to play a role in the household, the old who live alone without family, the handicapped with low income, and those who have no house and live in poor condition."
"The phenomenon of new poverty emerged as a result of the new liberalistic economics, which was established after the currency crisis of Korea," he said.
He continued, "In the slough of despond, some 30 people abandon their own lives everyday," and asked, "However difficult the lives may be, never consider abandonment of life that God gave us! Instead, respect the life and have the courage to overcome the difficulties!"
"Both all Catholic educators and educators of good will should make efforts so that education can help students to build good personality and form sound or positive view values," he added.