A Catholic Mass takes place at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on April 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Ever since the coronavirus temporarily shut down all Sunday Masses, more Catholics are feeling the importance of practicing faith in everyday life, while they feel less inclined to participate in a Sunday Mass.
The Woori Theology Institute conducted a survey of 6,074 South Korean Catholics, and revealed that ‘practicing faith in everyday life’ has been the biggest change observed since the coronavirus outbreak (3.35 points out of 4).
Other changes included ‘realization that faith and church communities are important’ (3.29 points), ‘concern for other members of the church’ (3.21 points), and ‘prayers to overcome the crisis’ (3.19 points).
Believers who were more enthusiastic about church activities were more inclined towards practicing faith in everyday life.
The institute categorized respondents from A to E, sorted by their level of activity in the church, and asked each group if they thought practicing faith in everyday life was important.
At 94.3 percent, the vast majority of those in Group A said ‘yes’, while only 67.9 percent in Group E said likewise.
Asked if their thoughts about mandatory attendance at Sunday Mass had changed, 33.8 percent in Group A and 41.4 percent in Group B said ‘yes’.
Half of those in Group C and 73.4 percent in Group D said likewise, raising prospects that religious activities centering around the church may weaken in the future.
The survey also revealed that 97.4 percent of all respondents, as well as 98.4 percent of the clergy (572 people) felt positive about shutting down all Sunday Masses last February when the coronavirus was spreading wildly.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
