ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Cardinal Yeom to Catholic parliamentarians: living politics as an "eminent form of charity"

Saturday, 11 July 2020 politics   human rights   human life   society   charity  

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - Implementing policies that privilege assistance to the poor and most vulnerable, so that politics can be an "eminent form of charity", as Pope Francis defined it in his Message for the 52nd World day of peace. This is what Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Archbishop of Seoul, said to the National Assembly of Catholic MPs, members of the various parties, visiting the National Assembly of Yeouido on July 10, and celebrating a mass for Catholic MPs of the 21st National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
As reported to Fides by the Archdiocese Communications Office, 43 members of the Catholic Congress and some members of the staff of the National Assembly attended the mass, presided over by the Cardinal and concelebrated by nine priests of the Archdiocese.
The Cardinal underlined the Church's commitment to life, inviting those present to "support the values of life and allow the peaceful coexistence of all", to take an interest in and be united with this cultural and action commitment in Korean society.
Referring to the pandemic, Cardinal Andrew Yeom underlined: "In this period of turmoil due to Covid-19, we again realize that we are all vulnerable and defenseless. As Pope Francis said, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet". And he reminded parliamentarians to always be attentive and to promote policies in favor of the poor and destitute.
After the mass, the Cardinal had a meeting with the President of the National Assembly, Park Byeong-seug, and expressed his hope that the members of the Congress of the 21st National Assembly could "lighten the hearts of Korean citizens, forgiving, working in harmony with each other" and remaining united whenever trials and difficulties occur for the nation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 11/7/2020)


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