by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

This is the theme chosen by the Bishops’ Conference to favour the meeting and comparison between the country’s various religions. An annual meeting in late June is on the drawing board.

Seoul (AsiaNews) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) began a series of inter-faith meetings with Buddhists, Confucians, Protestants, Anglicans, Orthodox and representatives of Korea’s traditional religions.

Called A Journey with the Catholic Bishop’s Conference for Ecumenism and Inter-religion Dialogue, the series is meant to be open to members of all faiths and held annually in late June.

To start this program, Fr Lee Jeong-ju and 20 Catholic seminarians will visit the Christian Conference of Korea (Protestants), Seoul Diocesan Office of the Anglican Church in Korea, the Diocesan Office of the Orthodox Church in Korea, the Jogyae Buddhist Office and Seonggyungwan (Confucian).

The Catholic Church has developed a good relationship with other religions as shown by the friendly relations and exchange between Card Stephen Kim Sou-hwan and Rev Beupjeung, Buddhist monk, as well as the well-wishing messages exchanged on the occasion of the various religious holidays.

The Bishops’ program was positively welcomed by other religions whose leaders hope to see these meetings bear fruit and favour dialogue and harmony in the country.

• south
• korea
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• stephen
• kim
• sou-hwan
• rev
• beupjeung
• lee
• jeong-ju