Seoul (Fides Service) - During a recent meeting in Seoul the Catholic Bishops of Korea approved a new Korean translation of the Bible, a new handbook on Catechetics, and discussed the celebration of the Day of Prayer and Reconciliation for the People of Korea and for the Day of Migration.
The new Korean version of the “Holy Bible” is the fruit of more than 15 years of revision by scholars, theologians and experts. The Catechetics Handbook, prepared by the Bishops’ Commission for Catechesis, and updated in keeping with new criteria for pastoral care and didactics, will be distributed to all parishes and church organisations.
During the meeting the Bishops agreed to draft a statement on bio-ethics and protection of human life and also to offer public support at the national level to efforts to promote respect for the life of the unborn child, and to prevent cloning and other practices contrary to Catholic morals.
The Bishops decided that the Day for Prayer and Reconciliation for the unity of the people of Korea will be held on the day before 25 June, and that the Day for Migrations will be held on the 1st Sunday in May. They also opted to institute a Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Administration to harmonise administration in dioceses all over Korea, also using IT technology and modern means of communication. They agreed to increase meetings with Japanese Bishops and local Church realities in Japan to intensify efforts to improve relations between the two countries.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/03/2005 Righe: 28 Parole: 298)