by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

Many South Korean Catholics take part in a "prayer for democracy" organised by the Association of Catholic Priests for Justice. For the group, "The elections were manipulated; the president should repent and order an investigation."

Seoul (AsiaNews) - More than 300 Catholics took part in the "Mass for justice" in Suwon, on Monday, co-celebrated by more than 70 priests from the Association of Catholic Priests for Justice.

The service was dedicated to the "prayer for democracy," which "is under attack in South Korea by the government of Park Geun-hye."

The government has in fact been accused of using the country's secret services to manipulate the last presidential election.

The Church in South Korea has issued a protest manifesto against meddling by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), joined by the Protestants, Buddhists and won Buddhists.

"We want to heal social unrest with the peace of Christ, which wins against sin and death. Freedom of conscience is a God-given human right. We want to protect it at the cost of our own lives," Fr Jo Han-yeong (from Yeoju Suwon parish church) said during his homily.

Pointing the finger at the president, the priest went on to say that, she "was not chosen by the people. Elections are the flower of democracy; if we pervert its meaning, the will of the people is manipulated by the government. The only way out of this situation is to act according to conscience. Park should launch an investigation into electoral fraud and repent."

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• korea
• catholics
• park
• conflict