Hundreds of thousands of South Korean Christians have held a prayer and worship service in the streets of the capital Seoul during a massive protest rally against a landmark court ruling that supported same-sex couples.
The decision acknowledged the rights of partners in same-sex relationships to receive state health insurance in what was hailed as a significant victory for LGBT rights in a country that has been less progressive on the issue than others in the region.
The court said that with no clauses in the National Health Insurance Act that refer to same-sex unions, denial of benefits to partners constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Different versions of anti-discrimination laws to protect the LGBT community have been proposed since 2011, but none have passed due to fierce opposition from South Korea’s conservative bloc and Christian community.
The Christian Daily reports that Christian leaders feared the court ruling would pave the way to legalising same-sex marriage and “ultimately opening the country up to transgender ideology that would harm families and restrict the freedoms of churches to live out their faith.”
Speakers at the rally claimed the court ruling was unconstitutional because same-sex marriage has not been legalised in South Korea.
One said: “We see this not simply as a Christian issue, but as a huge crisis that shakes our country’s foundation.”
Organisers claimed more than a million people turned out on the streets and another million watched the streamed coverage online. The police estimate of the attendance was around a quarter of a million.
Some participants held signs saying Oppose the Anti-Discrimination Law and Protect our Children from Gender Pollution, Gender Confusion and Gender Division Destruction.
The Reformation Sunday gathering called on Christians to “unite for repentance, revival, and restoration of holiness in our society.”
Three sermons preached during the event highlighted the importance of churches not remaining silent, so they could safeguard families and children, with one pastor praying to God, “Please accept our repentance and protect our families.”
Other speakers pointed to what’s happened in Western countries such as the US, the UK and Canada as warning signs of what may come if Korean believers don’t stand up at this time.
As an expression of their unity and commitment, churches that participated in the Seoul event issued a joint declaration “to renew the Republic of Korea”.
The statement highlighted the current crisis of values and expressed repentance over the churches’ failure to fulfill their role up to now.
The declaration affirmed the protection of the family, everyone’s right to “freedom of religion, speech, thought, and expression,” and the church’s role as “salt and light” in society.
It concluded by calling on the South Korean government, the Constitutional Court, the National Assembly and the Ministry of Education to refrain from enacting laws allowing same-sex marriage or promoting homosexuality and gender ideology through textbooks in schools.
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