South Korea calls for dialogue with North Korea; Catholics pray for peace

Seoul – “Let us overcome hatred, protect human dignity, engage in relationship with one another, pursue universal fraternity, and work toward a world without discrimination, where the justice and love of the Lord are realized,” reads a message from John Kim Sun-tae, Bishop of Jeonju, Chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of South Korea, as the country once again discusses “dialogue with North Korea” during Advent, a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Christ the Redeemer. Bishop Kim notes: “Throughout the world, people still suffer from hatred and discrimination,” and as believers who know “the value of human dignity,” “we commit ourselves to creating a world of love and unity.” Reflecting on the wounds inflicted by the division of the peninsula, the bishop explains that “feelings of hatred are spreading among young and old and have reached a very worrying level in our society,” while, on the other hand, the desire for reconciliation and r