Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice held open Mass amid frustration over late verdict
A Catholic priests’ group that played a key role in the pro-democracy movements under authoritarian regimes has upped rhetoric for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.
The Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice held an open Mass at Songhyeon Green Plaza near the Constitutional Court in central Seoul on Monday, urging a swift court ruling removing suspended Yoon from office for his martial law declaration on Dec. 3.
About 200 priests from the association called out “the public’s growing frustration over the delay” in the court’s ruling, referring to the two precedents of presidential impeachment when the court took no more than two weeks to reach a verdict after the final hearing. The court has been sitting on a final ruling for more than a month now.
The open Mass followed a public statement issued a day earlier by some 3,462 Catholic followers, including priests and five bishops, that condemned the court over dragging out what should be a “swift process.”
“Social instability and chaos are well past the tipping point,” the statement said, describing delayed punishment for those that had tried to take over the National Assembly under the martial law declaration as the “hubris of the Constitutional Court.”
The statement also criticized acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, calling the country’s interim leader “corrupt.”
Han returned to office last week after the Constitutional Court overturned his December impeachment prompted by his refusal to appoint court justices. The court found that while Han had violated the law, it was not serious enough to warrant his removal.
“So he violated the law but he’s not guilty?” the statement said, suggesting the court’s conclusion is self-contradictory.
On March 21, Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican, made a rare public statement asking the court for a quick resolution.
“Out of utmost urgency, I implore the court,” You said. “There is no reason to prolong a ruling if we heed our innermost voices of justice and conscience.”
“Pope Francis said there is no neutrality in pain. Likewise, there is no neutrality in justice. Let the Constitution speak for itself,” You added.
The statement was made in response to calls from many in and outside South Korea concerned about the turmoil the country was facing, according to You.
siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com
