ASIA/JAPAN – CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA MEET TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN COUNTRIES DIVIDED BY HISTORY

Nagasaki (Fides Service ) – A joint appeal to look at history in the light of truth and reconciliation has been launched by the Catholic Bishops of Japan and South Korea meeting recently in Nagasaki, Japan.
Nine years ago the Bishops decided to hold annual meetings to discuss solutions to problems caused by history. Gradually their meetings have become times of fruitful sharing on matters of pastoral care, theology, spirituality.
One important theme discussed at the recent meeting was the family, also in view of a meeting of FABC, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, next year in August 2004, and questions connected with Korean immigrant workers in Japan.
Another important theme for reflection was to look at the events of World War Two with objectivity according to criteria of truth and justice, the basis of authentic reconciliation
The Bishops appreciated the spirit of brotherhood experienced during their assembly and they agreed to hold their next meeting in November 2004 in Seoul which will aim to create more relaxed relations between the two countries.
In recent years there has been heated discussion between Japan and South Korea with regard to the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula in world war 2. Korea says that history books used in Japan’s schools fail to admit the atrocities committed by the Japanese occupying forces or the fact that Koreans were taken by force to work as slaves and more than 200,000 Korean women deported to be “comfort women” for Japanese troops.
(PA) (Fides Service 27/11/2003 lines 31 words 331)