Korea's Catholic Freedom Fighter and Assassin

A report reminding us that "today marks the 99th anniversary of the death of Ahn Jung-geun, who fought against Japanese colonial rule" — Prison where Ahn was killed to open. After "joining the armed resistance against the Japanese colonial rulers" and before he "assassinated Ito Hirobumi on the railway platform in Harbin, Manchuria in 1909," An Jung-geun was baptised. Here's the story:

While fleeing the fighting he took refuge with a priest of the Roman Catholic Church named Wilhelm (Korean name, Hong Sok-ku) and hid in his church for several months. The priest encouraged An to read the Bible and after a series of discussions with Wilhelm, An converted to Catholicism in January 1897. He maintained his belief in Catholicism until his death, even asking that his son become a priest in his last letter to his wife.

An Jung-geun assassinated Itō Hirobumi on the railway platform in Harbin, Manchuria in 1909. After firing upon Hirobumi, he and yelled for Korean independence and waved the Korean flag. Afterwards he was arrested by Russian guards who held him for two days before turning him over to Japanese colonial authorities. When he heard of the news that Itō had died, he made the sign of the cross in gratitude. An was quoted as saying, "I have ventured to commit a serious crime, offering my life for my country. This is the behavior of a noble-minded patriot." Despite the orders from the Bishop of Korea not to administer the Sacraments to An, Fr. Wilhelm disobeyed and went to An to give An the Last Sacraments. An insisted that the captors call him by his baptismal name, Thomas.

It shows the breadth of the Faith that a devout Catholic like Ahn "strongly believed in a union of the three great countries in East Asia, China, Korea, and Japan in order to counter and fight off the 'White Peril,' being the European countries engaged in colonialism." Tyrannicide, it must be said, was not traditionally categorized under the Catholic teaching that "permitted rebellion against oppressive rulers when the tyranny had become extreme and when no other means of safety were available." I've blogged about Thomas Ahn before — Catholic, Doctor, Nationalist, Assassin, Calligrapher.