By Lee Hyo-won
In the novel-turned-film ``Fight Club,’’ a broken modern man says, ``We have no Great War. We have no Great Depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives.’’
Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, 80, is one of Korea’s foremost spiritual leaders fighting for peace in a time when material wealth does not necessarily yield happiness.
The Korea Times sat down for an interview with the Catholic leader at his Myeongdong Cathedral office in downtown Seoul last week, to discuss his prayers for the New Year, his new book and current issues.
Question: Many Koreans were concerned about your health ever since you were hospitalized in October for signs of a cerebral hemorrhage. How are you feeling these days?
Answer: I am feeling better thanks to many people who were worried about my condition. But I cannot say I have no trouble at all in my daily affairs. I’m not a young man anymore, such as when I speak.
Q: What can you say about the past year 2010?
A: An eventful year has already come to an end, and I think many people in difficult circumstances were able to overcome hardships. There are those who are marginalized, such as terminally ill patients, migrant workers and even those who are economically well off but going through personal struggles.
There were also soldiers and citizens who lost their lives in the sinking of the warship Cheonan and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling. I prayed for God’s mercy upon these people and His consolation for their surviving families, as well as those who were displaced due to the shelling. But I also heard news of volunteers and citizens lending a helping hand for the Yeongpyeong islanders. They are angels sent by God and I would like to thank them.
Q: What are your hopes for the New Year?
A: I’d like to first say that his savior Jesus Christ came to us for peace and eternal life. An idyllic vision of harmony is a world in which predator and prey live together in peace. In our human world, I pray for peaceful coexistence among the strong and weak. An ideal community in this sense would be one that could function without laws, where people would not harm others.
I know this may sound too idealistic, but it can begin in the family, which is the microcosm of society. The happiness of a family is crucial, and is based on mutual understanding and cooperation between siblings, husband and wife, parent and child. Happy families will make peaceful communities.
On an individual level, it is important to realize that everyone has different opinions. We must accept our differences and find a common denominator through which we can all work and live together harmoniously. It is such a matter of course but we must not judge things black and white. Everything in the world is relative; only God is absolute truth. Learning the wisdom of accepting differences will help build a happier society.
Q: Religious conflicts ceaselessly occur all over the world. What can individuals, not only religious people but also ordinary people, do to ease the disputes?
A: Any given religion is a community that addresses eternal life _ the land of happiness in Buddhism, heaven in Christianity. Jesus Christ said ``I am the way, the truth and the life’’ (John 14:6). If you follow Jesus’ way, it will lead to the truth and one gains eternal life after gaining the truth. Truth is the second most important thing to man after life. But truth is often muddled by desire, which is the seed of religious and social conflicts.
Any given faith is based on truth and oriented toward eternal life, but it’s unfortunate that there are clashes among different groups. We should try to overcome our desires and try to cooperate for our shared goal of seeking truth.
Q: Issues involving homosexuality and clerics with ``questionable qualifications’’ have made headlines. What are your thoughts on these subjects?
A: The church’s views on homosexuality are clear. Traditionally, the Bible states that homosexuality is a direct violation of the Lord’s commandments, and the church has clarified its position in stating that it is an ``objective disorder.’’
However, the church does not indiscriminately exclude or punish homosexuals just because of their disorder. We must show deep sympathy and consideration for them and never unfairly discriminate. It is the duty of the church to show compassion to the marginalized and discriminated, and guide them to the ways of the Lord.
A cleric’s qualifications are crucial to the proclamation of the gospels. In a way, fostering good clerics is the most important role of the church. But clerics, too, are weak human beings and need to constantly discipline themselves in order to fulfill their parts.
Q: You have penned another book despite your ill health. What inspires your writing?
A: I am fulfilling a promise I made to a friend a long time ago, to publish a book every year. It’s been 49 years since I became a priest and this is my 49th book (``God’s Path, Man’s Path,’’ Catholic Book: 282 pp., 14,000 won), so I think I’ve kept my word.
Writing enables me to keep up with my studies. I try my best for each book but I always feel as if something is missing every time, so I tell myself that I’ll write better next time. Of course this is only possible if God wills it.