Renowned scholars from the Korean Church have stirred up local Catholics with recommendations to accommodate more lay theologians in seminary programs.
The Catholic Times of Korea held a round-table talk involving several church heavyweights on Oct. 27. The panel included Bishops Basil Cho Kyu-man of Wonju and Msgr. John Baptist Shim Sang-tae, director of the Christian Thought Institute of Korea.
"The key to promote academic development in the church is to bring up talented scholars, especially lay theologians," said Bishop Cho. "For this, the church needs funds to educate them and give scholarships."
Msgr. Shim also stressed the importance of raising lay theologians.
"Churches in the west already hire lay theologians for lecturing and research, in line with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council," Msgr. Shim said. "But the church in Korea still remains centered on clerics and does not let lay theologians give lectures at seminaries."
The Catholic Academic Award was invented to recognize scholars and researchers who have contributed to the development Catholic theology. The first award was given in 1997 and this year it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Nov. 10.