Vietnam: protests continue
Over the weekend, thousand of Catholics continued their protests appealing for the return of confiscated church property.
On Saturday morning. 32 sisters of the Adorers of the Holy Cross congregation in Hanoi took their solemn, perpetual profession of vows in a special Mass at Hanoi Cathedral. Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Joseph Dang Duc Ngan of Lang Son, Coadjutor Bishop Peter Nguyen Van De of Bui Chu, and 70 priests of Hanoi archdiocese and nearby dioceses.
After the Mass, priests led a procession from St Joseph cathedral to the former nunciature. The local police reinforced by special units stood by as thousands held a prayer vigil in the street.
Fr Vincent Nguyen, Provincial Superior of the Redemptorists in Vietnam said that the authorities have broken their promise to return the church property and are ignoring Church complaints about defamatory media coverage. He has asked the Redmptorists to begin a nine days of Novenas Our Lady of Perpetual Help.