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Korean church 'needs to empower' lay people

Clergy 'must cease using authoritarian' methods if church is to effectively implement pope's exhortation on family life
Korean church 'needs to empower' lay people
Published: December 19, 2016 08:45 AM GMT
Updated: December 19, 2016 08:46 AM GMT

Church officials must cut clericalism and start to empower lay workers if they hope to implement the apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia ("Joy of Love") released in March, according to a seminar.

The bishops' committee for family joined with the Catholic Pastoral Institute of Korea for the seminar on Dec. 12 to find a way to effectively implement Pope Francis' exhortation on family life.

Theresa Choi Hyun-soon, researcher at the Theology Institute of Jesuit-run Sogang University said, "for the family ministry, the church should avoid an authoritarian system centered on priests. The church should not teach doctrine in a high-handed manner."

Father Paul Han Min-taeg, professor at Suwon Catholic University, said that if the church sticks to authoritarian ways it would have difficulty implementing the pope's proposals.

"Even after the papal visit to Korea in 2014, the church has not changed. This comes from the authoritarian administration of the Korean church," he said.

Father John Bosco Kang Young-mok, in charge of Daegu Archdiocese's family ministry, said, "if the church wants support from the lay sector, it must empower lay workers and break away from clericalism."

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