Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The family is the first place for the handing on of the faith and education to spiritual life; a place where the child learns to pray and to live a relationship of love with other people; a place where life is welcomed and protected; a place which teaches self-giving, generosity and gratitude; a place where the child learns to love God and neighbour, in short, a place of sanctification. These points for reflection were proposed by the local Catholic Church to the faithful in Korea during the Season of Advent 2007. The family was the subject chosen by the Korean Bishops for this year's Advent pastoral letters.
Cardinal Nicholas Cheoung, Archbishop of Seoul in his Advent Letter with the title 'The Family Basis of Life' stresses the need for Christians to proclaim and recognise the supreme rights and value of the family, the basis of respect among human persons. He said this creates an environment where the value of life is respected. In the letter the Cardinal insists on the necessity to abrogate the “Mother and Child Health Law” approved by parliament, controversial with regard to abortion and contraception, and he reaffirms the Catholic position to defend life from conception to natural end.
In recent months the Catholic Church in Korea has promoted various initiatives to increase awareness on theme of protecting life and the family (see Fides 8/9/2007). After publishing a handbook on the Catholic teaching on the subject, a Decalogue to Protect Life was distributed to parishes, schools, universities, social assistance centres, the media, which includes also official requests to Korea's civil authorities. The document calls for the abolition of capital punishment, a ban on cloning and research on human embryos and the abrogation of the Mother and Child Health Law which encourages abortion, and it urges the government to promote social policies to encourage Korean couples to have children. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/9/2007 righe 28 parole 286)
