Seoul archdiocese to hold emergency priests` meeting

Amid rising criticism of the Catholic Disciples Group for Realizing Justice for pressuring Seoul Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk to resign, the Archdiocese of Seoul will hold an emergency meeting at Myongdong Cathedral Thursday afternoon.

In the 1970s, general assemblies of priests were held several times in the democratization movement but this will be the first priests’ meeting attended by the Seoul archdiocese’s official decision-making body.

Archdiocese PR staff member Heo Yeong-yeop said, “Since certain priests have urged resignation that goes beyond the criticism of the cardinal, we`ve decided to hold a priests’ meeting based on the opinion that the archdiocese should take a stand.”

Those who urged Cheong`s resignation will face criticism at the meeting, experts said.

On the archdiocese`s homepage, Catholics blasted the disciples group for calling the archbishop a “hardcore anti-communist” and those who urged him to resign.

A group representing lay Catholics held a meeting on the matter Tuesday and said Wednesday that they will announce their official stance after the priests` meeting.

dunanworld@donga.com