Korean Bishops yesterday issued a statement aimed at correcting the awareness of abortion in society, to mark the first Sunday for Life.

Bishop Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, president of the Bioethics Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) issued the statement, titled “Abortion is Murder”, urging Catholics to take the lead in “building the culture of life.”

During its March plenary meeting, CBCK decided to elevate the ‘Day for Life’on the last Sunday of May to the ‘Sunday of Life’. The new liturgical Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday of May.

According to the statement, abortion is the most serious crime among crimes which harm human life.

It repeated the Canon Law: “A person who actually procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.” (Canon 1398)

Over 1,000 abortions are performed per day in South Korea, noted Bishop Chang, deploring the notion that some Koreans insist that abortion is ‘the right of self-determination’or ‘the right to health’ for women. Nor should it be permitted for ‘financial reasons.’

For background, he cited a lack of sex education and medical ethics, distortion of sex, sexual inequality and the government’s negligence of its duty to protect life.

Father Casimir Song Yul-sup, secretary of the Pro-Life Activities of CBCK said: “Through the statement, the Church has proclaimed the Gospel of life.”

“CBCK will distribute education materials about life to churches in the country and begin a rosary prayer campaign for life during the month of May,”he noted.
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