ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Survey on the Catholic laity of Korea

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic laity in Korea is active, dynamic, efficient, and form an essential part in carrying out the pastoral work of the Church. This was what was found in a study promoted by the Committee for the Apostolate of the Laity, of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, and performed by the Institute for Social Apostolate in Seoul. The study was based on the responses of over 3,100 lay Catholics from all the Korean diocese, who were asked about their current lifestyle, their formation, and the foundations of their decisions, hopes, and desires.
The study confirms that the majority of the laity have heard the fundamental teachings of the Church in homilies at Sunday Mass. The laity affirmed their desire to mature in the faith, however they often do not have the necessary time to deepen in their knowledge of the faith. According to the study, the faithful would like to know more about matters having to do with the relationship between faith and culture in the world in which they are living in, as well as the relationship between faith and everyday life.
One important aspect that has come out of the survey, therefore, is the constant need for an accurate and effective formation of the laity, which is often paralyzed by the lack of sufficient pastoral planning. Thus, the report from the study is a call to the diocese to create specific formation programs and courses. Among the positive aspects and those activities already being made available, there are various theological institutes for laity in Korea that offer formation for catechists, coordinators of Church activities, deacons, Eucharistic ministers, and people who work in service to the local Church. It should be noted that such institutions are established in response to the demands of the laity, those people who live in the working world and have their own families. The sessions are organized by semesters and are held once a week.
The laity are a source of strength for the Korean Church. Their valuable contribution in all areas of the pastoral ministry make the Korean Church one of the Churches that has best understood and placed in practice the spirit of Vatican II. The Koran Church is strongly based on the participation and activity of the laity.
The Church movements also have a great role to play in the evangelizing mission of the Korean Church, as they are called to be a support to the lay spirituality, to respond to threats of materialism, hedonism, secularism, and the indifference towards religious values. Among the challenges of the Korean Church is the spread of religious sects, new religious movements, and New Age beliefs. In order to confront these phenomena, an active role on the part of the laity is needed in the mission. They should be authentic Christians, living the Gospel in their daily lives so that they can become the yeast in society. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/5/2008; righe 35, parole 484)