CathNews New Zealand

Japan and South Korea churches are working together in an effort to alleviate suffering in the light of the Japanese earthquake.

Japan’s closest neighbours have begun to set aside long-term animosities in an effort to help the region most affected by last week’s devastating earthquake.

With a drive to help Japan spreading across South Korea, Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik of Daejeon, South Korea has asked to forget the historical animosity between Korea and Japan and pray for and help people suffering after the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan.

Lazzario said in a message issued yesterday that “Japan is the country of which we have bad memories in the past.”

But he stressed that “we, Catholics who believe in God and live His words, should pray, help and love our neighbouring brothers,” asking to pray that the Japanese people can overcome this disaster and become closer with Koreans.

Koreans have been posting messages on the Internet to cheer up the Japanese, such as: ‘Japan, you can do it. Go for it!’, ‘So close, yet so far. Nevertheless, we are one family on the globe,’ and ‘We are neighbours who can help each other when the other is in need.’

Koreans have also been using the Internet to get donations for Japan.

Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Cheju, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK), sent a message yesterday to Archbishop Ikenaga Jun, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan and said Korean bishops wish to express their solidarity in a concrete form of assistance.

Accordingly, CBCK asked all 16 dioceses in South Korea to send financial aid for Japan to the CBCK by March 18.

Source:
Published with permission ucanews.com

Additional reading

News category: World.