His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan's Legacy

While most remember His Eminence's "advocating the popular passion for democracy during the South Korean democratization era of the 1980s," defectors from the North recall that unlike South Korean leftists, who were only concerned with tyranny south of the D.M.Z., the late cardinal "consistently raised his brave voice to reveal North Korea’s horrible situation and to reform and improve the human rights situation and systems there" — Stephen Kim Sou Hwan’s Words on North Korea.

"He refused life support," reports this obituary — Cardinal Kim Dead at 87. It is hoped that this act might lead more to understand the Ordinary/Extraordinary Means distinction, which, like all Catholic doctrines, is clear and makes a great deal of sense. "Refusal of 'ordinary' means of treatment [i]s considered suicide, while refusal of 'extraordinary' means [i]s not."

"Kim was the spiritual leader of Korean Catholics and also made invaluable contributions to the development of South Korean politics and society as the conscience of the age," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon — Late Cardinal Lauded as 'Conscience of Korea'.

"You'll be able to get to the students only after you get past me, the priests and the nuns," said His Eminence in 1987 to authorities who came to arrest dozens of anti-government student activists he protected at the Myeongdong Cathedral — Koreans Flock to Mourn Death of Cardinal.

"We share in the sorrow of Catholics who have lost a great teacher," said the Venerable Jikwan, chief executive of the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist denomination in South Korea — Religious leaders remember Cardinal Kim.

Vicar of Christ was "deeply saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-Hwan" and "offer[s] heartfelt condolences... to all the people of Korea" — Pope Sends Condolences for South Korean Cardinal. The Holy Father continued, "Recalling with gratitude Cardinal Kim's long years of devoted service to the Catholic community in Seoul and his many years of faithful assistance to the Holy Father as a member of the College of Cardinals, I join you in praying that God our merciful Father will grant him the reward of his labors and welcome his noble soul into the joy and peace of the heavenly Kingdom."

"Living through times of war, invasion and political chaos was difficult, but the late Cardinal held 'Pro vobis et pro multis' (For you and for many) as his lifelong pastoral motto, inspiring not only local Catholics but Korean society and beyond," writes Han Sang-hee in an ecellent pictoral obituary titled with His Eminence's last words — Thank You.