Catholic Priests' Association for Justice (CPAJ; Korean: 천주교정의구현전국사제단) is a South Korean association of Catholic priests, whose aim is to establish justice in Korea. It was established on September 26, 1974 as an attempt to resist against military regime of Park Chung-hee. This coalition of Catholic priests emphasized voluntary membership and individual priests' prerogative regarding what information ought to be relayed to their constituents. After the military regime ended, CPAJ currently focuses on reunifying Korea, safeguarding the environment, abolishing National Security Law, and promoting anti-war movements.
In October 2007, CPAJ revealed a corruption scandal of Samsung Group.
On June 30, 2008, CPAJ started participating beef protest regarding import of U.S. beef, which has been suspected to have been infected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy, by celebrating Mass in Seoul and participating candlelight demonstration afterwards.
Famous quotes containing the words catholic, priests, association and/or justice:
“That is the great end of empires before God, to be Catholic and draw nations into their Catholicism. But our empire is less and less Christian as it grows.”
—Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)
“Wee image of my bonnie Betty,
I fatherly will kiss and daut thee,
As dear an’ near my heart I set thee
Wi’ as guid will,
As a’ the priests had seen me get thee
That’s out o’ hell.”
—Robert Burns (1759–1796)
“The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.”
—French National Assembly. Declaration of the Rights of Man (drafted and discussed August 1789, published September 1791)
“If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us.”
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626)