Religious Leaders Wish for Peaceful Christmas
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Religious leaders of Korea shared their thoughts and wishes for Christmas and the New Year, agreeing on the need for a ``peaceful and unified world.''
Ven. Ji gwan, head of the largest Buddhist Jogye Order, hoped for Christmas to be `` a day of hope for our people and a guide toward unification in this country.''
Cardinal Chung Jin-seok of the Archdiocese of Seoul also expressed his holiday spirit, ``I hope that there will be love, peace, mercy and forgiveness in all the homes of our people. The only way for the church to become the guiding light to our people is when we follow the footsteps of Christ and his dedication toward love.''
``I hope the church will be able to realize the true meaning of love and life,'' said Rev. Lee Yong-gyu, the head of The Christian Council of Korea.
Pastor Kwon Oh-sung of the National Council of Churches stressed that ``we must pursue world peace and share what we have with those who are less fortunate than we are. We must create a world worth living for.''
Meanwhile, employees from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea will also be visiting 24 homes on Christmas Eve to donate coal briquettes and rice cakes, while Taego Order's ``Open Temple,'' led by Ven. Bub hyun, will share red bean porridge with those who visit on Christmas day.