[How about this book] Korea's Catholic Pillar: "People Are More Important Than Rules"

Emphasizes Strengthening Women's Roles Including Nuns
Also Warns Against Clericalism>

Cardinal Lazarus Yoo Heung-sik, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, was born during the Korean War. His family consisted of his mother, older sister, and older brother?three in total. He has no memories of his father, presumed to be due to the ideological conflicts and the rise of communism between North and South Korea at that time. In his childhood, someone told him, "Your father is missing," but the detailed circumstances remain unknown to this day.

Although his family’s financial situation was not affluent, he was very cheerful. He was consistently class president during elementary school and had strong friendships. He was decisive and firm, often being called a stubborn child by adults. Someone once said that depending on the path one chooses, they could become a great person or a notorious one. Fortunately, he grew into a clergyman who embraces the global church close to the Pope, beyond just Korean Catholicism.

The book is structured as an interview conducted by a priest from the Vatican Secretariat of State with Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik. It covers the cardinal’s personal history, his priestly and episcopal roles, and contemporary church matters.

Cardinal Yoo’s serious connection with Catholicism began in high school. After graduating from Daegun Middle School, named after Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, he attended Daegun High School, where he received Catholic catechism and was baptized. Despite excellent academic performance that allowed for many high school options, he chose Daegun High School because it offered scholarships due to financial difficulties, which ultimately led him to the path of priesthood.

Cardinal Yoo testifies that many circumstances helped him pursue the path of priesthood. One such circumstance was university admission. He faced difficulty entering the seminary because the rule required at least three years after baptism before admission. However, that year, the number of seminary entrants was lower than usual, and he was exceptionally granted admission. "Through that event, the Lord taught me a great lesson: while rules are important, what matters more is people’s lives. We must have a broad perspective and carefully consider everything," he said.

This attitude is evident in his later actions. When addressing divorce, which is taboo in the Bible, he emphasizes viewing it through the lens of love rather than ethical norms or canon law. He states, "Just because Jesus was crucified does not mean that situations related to our lives become legally or ethically perfect," adding, "From a Christian legal perspective, even if ‘everything is in its place,’ life can continue. (Omitted) Love is essential for the hospitality taught by the Gospel. We must not make the mistake of extinguishing the flame of holy grace due to rigid prejudice."

The strengthening of women’s roles is in the same vein. As a seminary rector, he emphasized the positive influence that nuns had on seminarians’ emotional maturity and human relationships, arguing, "We should not merely talk about women’s roles or assign the minimum number of women. Women must play a central role in forming seminarians." He warned that the absence of human relationships based on emotional maturity limits fellowship and isolates the church from the world.

Fellowship among believers who are not isolated is a point Cardinal Yoo particularly stresses. Regarding this, he warns against clericalism. He points out, "There are priests who feel a kind of security by considering themselves different from others and specially chosen by God," adding, "This tendency stems from human weakness."

He also emphasized efforts to understand young people who reject the church. He said, "I get the impression that some clergy already have theoretical definitions or prejudices about certain people in their minds," and added, "(Young people) long for meaningful role models. (Omitted) When they meet someone who shows beautiful and sincere testimony, they are moved, open themselves, and reveal who they are. We must approach them with fundamental questions they care about, such as ‘What do you truly want to do in your life?’"

For Cardinal Yoo, faith is living the Word. "Christian faith is not limited to cultural dimensions or moral obligations but involves accepting the questions the Lord’s Word throws into my heart and opening myself to be touched by that Word." He introduces the essence of faith life this way. "Living the Word daily and experiencing love through sharing with neighbors is the shortcut to meeting Jesus and knowing the Gospel," he says, adding, "Christianity is not a complex of concepts but an experience of joyful fellowship felt through love for God and brothers. This experience supports our faith journey."

Lazarus Yoo Heung-sik | Written by Yoo Heung-sik Lazarus | Translated by Seong Yeon-sook | Edited by F. Cosentino | Pauline Books & Media | 168 pages | 13,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.