Beloved American priest dies

American priest Father Seo Roberto (Robert Sweeney), beloved by Koreans as a human rights activist, has died at the age of 65 as a result of colon cancer. The funeral service was held July 31 at the Myoungdong Cathedral.

Seo was born in 1935 in New York. After entering the order in 1959, he came to Korea in 1964 working as a missionary at Solokdo Catholic church in the South Junra province for four years. He was held in custody by the National Intelligence Service for his participation in the movement to help the poverty-stricken masses.

Seo saw himself as one of the people and worked the land with Korean farmers in Dangjin, South Choongchung Province, in 1987.

His lifetime dedication to humanitarian causes could be seen in his fight for the people¡¯s rights in Maehyang-ri. When police cut off roads to Maehyang-ri, he would walk 5 kilometers through rice fields to take part in the protests.

Seo never missed the monthly demonstrations held in front of the U.S. Embassy, demanding the revision of the Status of Forces Agreement, since last November. Seo died at the Seoul Kangnam St. Mary¡¯s Hospital early last Friday morning after a long fight against colon cancer. The devastated people of Maehyang-ri said that they had ¡°lost a saint who had been with the people through thick and thin.¡±