Christian leaders in South Korea have offered their condolences to family members and victims of the recent shooting rampage at Virginia Tech university in the United States.Korean Catholic bishops issued a message on April 18, saying that, "We, Korean bishops, feel great shock and pain, especially by the fact that this incident was done by a Korean young man."
They warned against this tragedy leading to further violence or revenge against innocent people in the U.S. "It should not create ethnic conflicts or prejudice," they declared.
The bishops also regretted that they "couldn't fulfill (their) duty to help people realize the importance of life that God has given us as a gift."
Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old South Korean immigrant, killed 33 people, including himself, and wounded at least 29 in a shooting rampage on the campus of Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), in Blacksburg, Va., on April 16.
The senior student at the university's English department, used two handguns, one 9-millimeter and one .22-caliber pistol, according to reports.
Cho, a native of South Korea, grew up in Centreville, Va., where his family owns a dry-cleaning business. He moved with his family to the United States at the age of 8 in 1992, and was a legal permanent resident, according to the New York Times.
On April 19, Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul sent a condolence message to Bishop Francis Xavier DiLorenzo of Richmond, Va., saying that all Koreans, including Catholics, are "very much shocked and in deepest sorrow."
Calling the incident an "unimaginably horrible crime," Cardinal Cheong offered his condolences to all Americans, especially the bereaved families. He said he hopes that all Americans and Koreans in the U.S. will be able to overcome this shocking tragedy.
A memorial Mass for the victims was also held on April 19 at Myeongdong Cathedral of Seoul Archdiocese.
Meanwhile Reverend Kwon Oh-sung, secretary general of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) sent a condolence message to Rev. Robert Edgar, secretary general of the U.S. National Council of the Churches of Christ.
Referring to "the deadliest school shooting incident in the history of the United States," he said that all Koreans feel an added sense of shock and grief because it was committed by a Korean student. "We can find no words to console the families of the dead and injured," he added.
He noted that the NCCK Executive Committee would hold a memorial service for the victims on April 19, adding, "We pray that the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and those who have suffered injury and trauma may find peace and hope in God's unfailing love."
Rev. Lee Yong-kyu, president of the Christian Council of Korea, an umbrella group of conservative Protestant Churches, issued a statement on April 18, consoling the victims and those who have lost loved ones.
He traces the cause of the tragedy to the US Constitution, which allows individuals to legally own a gun. He regretted that "the number of guns owned by individuals in the U.S. is over 250 million."
According to international media, 40-50 percent of American families own guns, one of the highest percentages in the Western world.
Rev. Lee also asked media and civil groups to focus on overcoming the lobbying power of the U.S. National Rifle Association, which has fought regulation of private gun ownership.
Korean President Roh Moo-hyun also sent a condolence message on April 18 to U.S. President George W. Bush.
On the same day, he issued another statement, at the end of a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who was visiting Korea. He hopes that "Americans will overcome this great sorrow and difficulty and regain peace as soon as possible."
The Virginia Tech Web site (www.vt.edu/) says that in the 2006-2007 school year, there are 1,655 Asians among 26,370 students in the university.
According to local media, there are about 460 students from Korea at the university.
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