Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - In view of general elections on 15 April, the Church in Korea issued guidelines for Catholic voters, recalling the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
The Catholic Bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission, presided by Bishop John Cho Young-soo, is attending a special meeting 8-9 March in which it will urge Catholics to take an active part in the social and political life of the country to carry the message and values of the Gospel to society and to be “leaven in the crowds”.
Criteria for judging political leaders was also the focus of a meeting in February of the Justice and Peace Commission of Seoul archdiocese, which highlighted transparency, credibility, sincerity, coherence. The Commission said that the candidates should lead a family life which is coherent with Christian principles, they should be committed to defending human rights and peace, defending life at all levels, protecting creation and should support young people, families, the poor and the excluded.
The Commission said that Catholic politicians should work to change and evangelise the world of politics, uproot the evils of corruption and personal interests and promote social solidarity and the common good.
A call to conversion was addressed to civil leaders also by Archbishop Nicholas Cheong of Seoul in his Lenten Message, “Being the salt and the light of the world through conversion”. Drawing attention to the problems in Korea “widening gap between rich and poor, pressure groups which pursue only private interests, excessive individualism, an epidemic of divorces”, the Archbishop urged political leaders to “work to overcome the present crisis and to pursue the common good of the people”.
With regard to the elections in April the Archbishop said: “political stability and development are directly connected with the happiness of the people. Elections must be fair and transparent and elected candidates must put themselves with sincerity at the service of the nation”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/3/2004 lines 34 word 368)
