Korean Bishops in Japan: "May the tsunami be a new dawn for Land of the Rising Sun"
Seoul (AsiaNews) - Natural disasters "pose a serious question to all believers, who wonder why God allows them. But through these disasters, God prepares great graces for humanity. And that is what we must focus on. " These are the words with which Mgr. Peter Kang U-il, president of the Korean Bishops' Conference, said during his visit to the diocese of Sendai in Japan, one of the hardest hit by the earthquake and resulting tsunami in March.
The bishop made the visit with Mgr. Peter Lee Ki-heon, who heads the Forum of reconciliation between the Japanese and Korean bishops: the two have brought to their brethren the sum derived from the special collections held throughout April in the Catholic dioceses in South Korea. An AsiaNews source, who was part of the delegation, said: "More than the money, the closeness and friendship between Catholics of both countries counted ".
Korea and Japan have not enjoyed good relations for more than a century: the aggressive colonial policy of the Land of the Rising Sun, stopped after the defeat in World War II, has caused much pain in the Korean and Chinese populations that have since cooled relations with Tokyo. After the disaster of 11 May, however, both Beijing and Seoul said they were "close" to the country.
The Catholic Church, in particular, has led this reconciliation. The bishops of Korea and Japan have been trying for years to bring the faithful of both nations together and have even set up an "exchange" of priests, who spend long periods in the parishes as guests to re-open a channel of dialogue between the countries. This visit and the gift of Korean Catholics, the source explains, "the crown years of hard work."
The two bishops have visited the cathedral of Sendai, badly damaged by the quake, accompanied by the local bishop, Mgr. Tetsuo Hiraga. Soon after they went to the Support Centre set up by the diocese after the disaster, where they met with the staff and the faithful. Here Mgr. Kang found a welcome message (picture) written by children in the area. The bishop said it "breaks my heart to see the living conditions of the survivors. But the presence of Divine Providence can be felt".
These two disasters, he concluded, "provide a new opportunity for us all. The faithful are questioning why God has allowed them, but we should instead concentrate on the great graces which, through this, he prepares for man. Concern for others, compassion and mutual aid has been reborn in Japan: this change is a seed from which a new horizon for Japanese society is being born".
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