Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) -Aware of the challenge and danger of new pseudo religious movements, the Catholic Church in Korea has stressed the need to provide Catholics with proper formation and experience of spirituality.
At a recent Symposium in Seoul, on the theme “The challenges of new spiritual movements and pastoral measure”, Rev. Pius Kwak Sung-ryong, and expert in new religions said movements “offer the Church an opportunity to reflect on herself”. To respond to growing demands for spirituality in society, “it is necessary to organise meetings on themes of Catholic spirituality such as the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius or Adoration of Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament”, drawing from the immense heritage of old and new Catholic tradition.
Participants at the Symposium agreed on the need to put Christ back at the centre of devotion and to promote reflection, meditation and prayer on the Bible, the Gospels in particular. They also remarked on the present day situation of cultural fragmentation and three phenomena: the spread of animist religions even in highly developed areas; the appearance of totally new spiritual movements and cults; tendencies typical of post-modern culture. These ideas are spreading also among Christians threatening the identity of Catholics. The influence of pluralism has almost eliminated the line between good and evil, the truth and untruth, and these tendencies create confusion among Christians.
Last year the Church in Korea, always attentive to the threat of pseudo religions and religious groups issued a paper: “Movements and Trends Harmful to Healthy Faith Life” to help Catholics understand correctly the authentic nature of the faith and mission of the Catholic Church and to discern phenomena which undermine the faith life. The paper refers especially to the “New Spiritual Movement”, introduced in Korea in recent years.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2004 lines 28 words 285)
