Seoul ( AsiaNews) - A "Lenten Prayer for Life", a chain of rosaries recited for the cause of the abolishment of "Mother and Child Health Law". This is initiative launched by the Korean Church during the "Mass for Life", which, like every year, was celebrated on 10 February in Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul. The norm on reproductive health in fact promotes abortion in the country, which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
The celebration was organized by the Episcopal Commission on Bioethics and was celebrated by Msgr. Lino Lee Seong- hyo, President of "pro-life activities". Around 1,300 people attended the Mass, and prayed that "the pro-life culture will spread in our society for the promotion of the right of unborn children". The bishop argued that "the older generation centering on economics has enticed the younger generation to practice contraception and commit feticide, promoting the use of contraceptives".
The prelate added, "nowadays many young people are overexposed to the mass media without proper protection, and they show the tendency inclining to contempt for life". He asked the pro-life activists to "make more efforts to teach the young to understand the dignity of life and the proper meaning of sexuality". This is why, beginning Ash Wednesday (March 3 ), the Church " asks everyone to celebrate a Lent of prayer for life".
The current birth rate in Korean is 1.05 % , one of the lowest in the world. Aware of the risk this data presents, the Catholic Church has always been involved in programs to support the family and procreation. Issues related to genetics and cloning are deeply sensitive ones in the country, since it is home to the first experiments related to the reproduction of human cells.