Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - On the occasion of the 25th Human Rights Sunday on December 10, Bishop Boniface Choi Ki-San, president of the Korean Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace issued a message urging society to respect the human dignity of every human person created in the image and likeness of God and calling on Catholics to make an effort to help the poor and the neglected.
In the message, titled “To Exert ourselves to recover and establish a place for the neglected neighbour”, the Bishop says “Christians must be Guardians of Human Rights, light and salt in our society through the practice of the virtue of love”. “It is not enough to have only sympathy for the poor and the neglected. We must help them find their place in life and restore their dignity. Contemplating the commandment to love, let us revive the justice of God on this earth”.
The Church in Korea underlines issues requiring special attention: promoting the common good and dialogue based on respect for people with different opinions; protect human life from any sort of manipulation or abuse; urge public powers to prevent violation of human rights; care for the poor and the neglected denied even basic rights; extend efforts to protect human rights to North Korea and other Asian countries.
Bishop Choi mentioned tension and uncertainty in the Korean peninsula, and he urged Catholics to pray for that human rights may be respected in North Korea. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2006 righe 26 parole 255)
