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Dec. 22 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s presidential office said Monday it “respects the National Assembly’s decision” after the ruling Democratic Party backed the opposition’s call for a special prosecutor to investigate matters linked to the Unification Church.

A senior presidential official said the office has consistently supported a thorough investigation regardless of party or religion and described the move as consistent with that stance.

“The presidential office has consistently advocated for a strict investigation regardless of party or religion, so a special prosecutor aligning with that stance is only natural,” the official said, adding that the party’s shift should be seen as reflecting the presidential office’s position.

Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki said during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that he supports a special probe that would include politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties.

He said the People Power Party appears to believe the Democratic Party is avoiding a special investigation and urged proceeding with a special prosecutor focused on the Unification Church.

Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae also said there was no reason not to accept the proposal and called for a full accounting that includes any People Power Party figures involved.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Dec. 19 (UPI) — Pope Leo XIV on Friday named Bishop Richard Moth as archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales with about 6 million Catholics.

Moth, 67, will replace Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols as archbishop of Westminster, the Holy See Office said. His formal appointment will be on Feb. 14, the Guardian reported.

“I am moved greatly by the trust that Pope Leo has placed in me, in appointing me to the diocese of Westminster,” said Moth, who was bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015.

Earlier this year, Nichols, 80, offered to resign when he turned 75 but was asked by the late Pope Francis to remain. He was a member of the conclave that named a new pontiff in May.

Moth said Nichols has “given dedicated service to the diocese and will be missed greatly.”

Nichols said he was delighted about his successor.

“I remember being present in Westminster Cathedral on 29 September 2009 for the episcopal ordination of Bishop Richard as bishop of the forces,” Nichols said. “So today I can say: ‘Welcome back, dear Bishop Richard. You are most welcome indeed. ‘”

Moth served the territory in southern England covering the counties of Sussex and Surrey, which is not part of Westminster. His new diocese includes most of London north of the Thames and the county of Hertfordshire.

Moth said he is looking forward to his new role.

“My first task will be to get to know the priests and people of Westminster and I look forward now to serving them,” Moth said. “With them, and building on the firm foundations that have been laid by so many down the years, I look forward to continuing the great adventure that is the life of the church and witness to the gospel.”

Moth was born in southern Africa’s Zambia in 1958, grew up in Kent in southeastEngland, completed his primary and secondary studies in Catholic schools in Kent and became an ordained priest in 1982.

Before becoming bishop of Arundel and Brighton, Moth was bishop of the military forces for six years. He also leads governors at St. Mary’s University in Twickenham, and is a member of the liaison bishop for prisons.

Moth has been an oblate of Pluscarden Abbey, a community of Catholic Benedictine monks in Scotland, for more than 40 years. He also is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

He has been involved in numerous issues.

Moth asked clergy and parishioners to write to their ministers to express their concerns about assisted dying.

He also called for empathy for “those who come to this country for their safety,” noting Jesus’ family fled to Egypt as refugees.

And he worked on social justice issues in Britain.

There are 726 active archbishops worldwide for 1.4 billion Catholics.

On Thursday, the pope named Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, 58, of Joliet, Ill., as New York’s new archbishop, ending the 16-year tenure of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, 75.

CHARLOTTE Church has confessed she ‘stinks’ after shunning deodorant and even admitted she no longer shaves. 

The frank confession from Charlotte, 39, came during an appearance on the Walking The Dog podcast. 

When host Emily Dean commented on how “lovely” she smelt, Celebrity Traitors star Charlotte was caught off guard. 

She candidly said: “Do I? That’s surprising. I never smell nice.

“I don’t wear any deodorant or anything, so I generally stink. I don’t shave anymore. I don’t shave anything.”

The former classical music singer went on to explain her reasons for shunning the product and revealed she loves showing off her hairy legs. 

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She said: “I stopped shaving probably about 18 months ago, maybe even longer than that, maybe two years. 

“And I stopped wearing deodorant… I just started thinking, do you know what? This underarm area, there’s so many receptors there, lymph and all sorts of stuff going on there.

“I’m just not sure about sticking all of this chemical stuff in these pores, because your skin is so… you know, it’s the largest organ in the body.

On the subject of shaving, Charlotte continued: “Each to their own. 

“Do you know what I mean? Crack on and have a lovely time and do whatever feels good – dye it, shave it, whatever – but for me I’m just like ‘Nah!’

“I sort of love it, I love the contradiction of it. So I love wearing dresses, beautiful dresses, with my really hairy legs and heels and nails. It’s so confusing for people.”

It’s Charlotte’s latest very honest confession, after she said Alison Hammond “p***** her off” during an appearance on This Morning.

She spoke about the moment on Elizabeth Day’s podcast after clips from her appearance went viral on social media.

During the segment, Charlotte was invited on to This Morning to lead a five-minute sound bath session.

However, unfortunately for Charlotte, Alison found it all a bit too much and found herself laughing and cringing through the entire segment as Charlotte did her best to carry on.

When asked by Elizabeth if she was left “bothered” by Alison’s reaction to her doing a sound bath, Charlotte said: “Oh, that p****d me right off.

“That p****d me right off.”

Elizabeth then added: “Yeah. I felt for you.”

Charlotte continued: “I’ve met Alison Hammond a number of times and she’s a wonderful woman.”

In a further candid confession, Charlotte added: “That really did actually touch quite a deep wound for me.

“I was like, ‘ugh I really like you, Alison, but f*** you’.”