Progressive Protestants, Catholics launch solidarity network for anti-discrimination law

Lim Bo-rah, a pastor of the Sumdol Presbyterian Church in Mapo District, Seoul, speaks during a press conference held to announce the launch of "Christians for a World Without Discrimination and Hatred" in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Protestants and Catholics joined hands to launch a Christian solidarity network to pass an anti-discrimination bill, amid a backlash from conservative Christians against sexual minorities.

Representatives of up to 32 Christian organizations, such as the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) Human Rights Center, the human rights center of the Social Apostolate of the Society of Jesus Korea and a group of Korean Anglican priests seeking justice, gathered Monday to announce the launch of the organization called "Christians for a World Without Discrimination and Hatred."

In a declaration stating the launch of the organization, it said "Jesus loved those who were hated by others and seen as immoral, sinners, minorities or weak and created a community while eating with them … We support the legislation of the anti-discrimination law as we are Christians." It also urged lawmakers to pass the bill as quickly as possible.

"It is a historic day for Catholic and Protestant churches to join hands to expel discrimination in the church community. The two churches cooperated with each other in the 1970s as missionaries and for human rights. Now, the coalition can create an opportunity to bring the community to oppose discrimination and to love others," Rev. Park Seung-ryul, head of the of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) Human Rights Center, said during the press conference.

Liberal and progressive lawmakers have for years been proposing bills for anti-discrimination laws, which mainly stipulate guarding against discrimination of people based on certain traits ― including sexual orientation. The moves have been supported by leftists and some religious groups such as the NCCK and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. But conservative church groups have maintained opposition against the passage of the anti-discrimination law largely because they believe homosexuality is contrary to the teachings of the Bible according to their interpretation of it.

The organization is planning to work towards the passage of the bill as well as to help religious communities to be more welcoming of minorities, it added.

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