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Cardinal Stephen Kim Su-hwan has urged President Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Hoi-Chang, the former leader of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), to confess their wrongdoings to the people.
¡°Our country is now undergoing a serious crisis. Everything is so confusing. Those involved in the illegal election fund scandal should confess their wrongdoings with a determination that they would even go to jail,¡± Kim said Thursday during a meeting with Chough Soon-hyung, the head of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP).
The cardinal made the remark in reply to Chough, who said, ¡°When I met President Roh recently, along with three other major political party leaders, I proposed that we all confess about our campaign fundraising. Then the President said that there is no such thing as a sincere confession in this world. I couldn¡¯t understand how he could say that.¡±
¡°With Christmas ahead, a lot of people visit churches to confess their wrongdoings,¡± Kim said. ¡°Their confession is just for asking pardon from God but a sincere vow that they will never repeat the wrongdoings. Now that allegations of illegal fundraising during last year¡¯s presidential election campaign have turned out to be true, those involved in irregularities should come forward, ask for God¡¯s forgiveness and face the consequences, even if it means that they have to go to prison.¡±
¡°I hope that this scandal will be cleared up soon and that all politicians will work to establish a good clean country,¡¯¡¯ Kim added.
Kim also expressed deep disappointment at the current political situation and especially with politicians who fail to resolve the confusion. ¡°I¡¯m really concerned about what will happen to us if we fail to get over this crisis,¡± he said.
¡°As I see it, President Roh seems to believe that politics is something to do only with supporters,¡± Kim said. When MDP Rep. Kim Sang-hyun, who was also present at the meeting, noted that it is what they call ¡°code politics,¡± Kim replied, ¡°Is that it? A code?¡±
¡°When I met the President at Cheong Wa Dae recently, he was in litigation against four major newspapers that were critical of him and his administration. I advised the President to embrace them instead of fighting with them. Then he said, ¡®Only the strong can embrace. I¡¯m the weak.¡¯ It was so an unexpected response that I couldn¡¯t help but to stare at him without saying any further,¡± Kim said.
(Lee Myong-jin, mjlee@chosun.com )
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