The
Catholic Priests' Association for Justice (CPAJ) was born on
September 26, 1974 as a national association of priests across
diocesan boundaries, on their own initiative. During the military
regimes in 1970's and 1980's there were about 900 priests in
Korea, of which approximately 500 priests participated in the
CPAJ. Since 1987 there have been diocesan meetings and national
monthly executive committee meetings composed of two or three
delegates from each diocese.
The CPAJ
began on the occasion of the imprisonment of Bishop Daniel Tji
Hak- Soon in 1974 and became known through a statement issued
at a Prayer Meeting in Myung Dong Cathedral on September 26,
1974. The statement dealt with curent issues and was entitled
: We Believe in the Great Dignity and Call of Humanity. In its
First Statement, the CPAJ called for the abolition of the Yushin
Constitution and the restoration of democracy, for the complete
annulment of the emergency decrees, for respect for the basic
right to livelihood of the people and human rights, and for
the establishment of economic policies for the poor.
There were
a number of suggestions for the name of the association, such
as human rights, democratization, justice, peace, reunification,
and so on. In the end it was decided to focus on Realization
of Justice. The reason for this is that justice is an unchanging
value that shows forth the special characteristic of God. The
CPAJ seeks to promote human dignity, human rights, democratization,
peace, and reunification based on justice.
From the
beginning, the CPAJ has been trying to be an active Christian
conscience amid the conflicts of current events. During the
military regimes of the 70's and 80's, having tried to be a
light and a torch for the poor and marginalized, many priests
suffered imprisonment in connection with both the March 1st
Declaration for Democratic National Salvation, and the May
18th
Kwangju Democratic Movement. Especially our statement under
the title of The Announcement of Park Jong - Chul's Torture
and
Death was Fabricated' ignited the June 1987 struggle for democracy
by bringing to light the truth about the torture and death
of
the Seoul National University student.
The CPAJ
focused on toppling the military dictators and promoting the
democratization movement during the 70's - 80's, and expanded
its activities to the reunification movement in the late 80's
and to reform of the Church in the 90's. The association dispatched
Rev. Mun Kyu-Hyeon to North Korea to accompany Ms. Im Soo-kyung
as she crossed the border to South Korea in 1989. This action
moved the South-North relationship and the drive for reunification
to a new level, and the CPAJ has received high regard for that.
In 1991 the CPAJ began to publish Light, a weekly publication
carrying many articles on the CPAJ and its future orientation.
In 2002
the CPAJ held prayer meetings and fasts for life and peace,
asking for repentance from the U.S. military who killed Misun
and Hyosun, and to pay tribute to their souls. The CPAJ also
actively participated in struggles for revision of the SOFA
(Status of Forces Agreement). In 2003 it took part in a 65 day
journey on foot (using a traditional ascetic practice of 3 steps
and 1 bow) urging the restoration of the Saemankeum Tidal Flat
and respect for life. In 2004, CPAJ held a Mass for reunification
at Kumkang Mountain in commemoration of the 30th anniversary
of the founding of CPAJ. About 500 priests, brothers, sisters
and lay people participated in the event. Also in 2004, CPAJ
priests held a 14 day hunger strike and prayer meting, with
daily Mass, calling for the abolition of the National Security
Law.
Mailing Address
: 5 Floor Gwang Jang BuilDing 1-94 Dongsung-dong,
Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea 110-809 Telephone
: (02)3672-0251/ Fax.(02)3672-0255 Homepage
: www.sajedan.org
/ www.cpaj.or.kr E-Mail
: sajedan@hanmail.net
