HANOI - 17 January 2008 - 540 words
Vietnam: tensions grow between Church and government
Our correspondent in Vietnam has asked ICN readers to pray for Catholics in Vietnam as the government there has threatened to use violence against the ongoing prayer vigils calling for the return of confiscated church property.
On January 11, the local government of
Hanoi issued a statement in which it accused Archbishop Joseph
Ngô Quang Kit of "taking advantages of religious freedom
to stir up protests against the government", "organizing
prayer protests after every Mass", and "damaging the
relationship between Vietnam and Vatican".
The local government of Hanoi also accused Fr Joseph Trnh Ngc
Hiên, vicar of Thai Ha parish, and his parishioners of
disturbing public order by organizing prayer protests, and hanging
Our Lady icons and Crosses on the fences standing on the land
in dispute.
In Vietnam, the expression "taking advantages of religious
freedom to stir up protests against the government" usually
means a very strong warning from the communist government that
it is ready to employ violent persecutions.
Archbishop Joseph Ngô seemed to ignore the alarming warning.
He argued back point by point on a statement issued on January
14 by Fr John Lê Trng Cung, chancellor of Hanoi archdiocese.
"Hanoi Catholics", he said, "have no other choice
than praying peacefully on disputed lands to attract the attention
of the government on injustices they have suffered" because
"their petitions have gone unanswered".
He pointed out that according to Vietnam laws, no one can carry
out new constructions or modifications on the land in dispute.
Those who do that violate the laws. But, "The local government
did not punish them. Instead, it has stood on their side",
said the statement. The local government also did not keep their
words. "On the evening of January 7, it pledged to the parishioners
of Thai Ha to stop any new constructions on parish land, the next
morning, the People's Committee of Hanoi issued another ruling
to allow Chien Thang sewing company to keep going with its plan".
"That's why Hanoi Catholics do not trust the government any
more".
The statement indicated that Archbishop Joseph Ngô will
not submit to the pressure from the government and the prayer
protests will continue until Hanoi Catholics win justice.
Bishop Paul Nguyn Vn Hòa of Ban Mê Thut, former president
of Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops; Bishop Francis Nguy_n
V_n Sang of Thái Bình; Bishop Joseph V Vn Thiên
of Hi Phòng; and newly ordained Bishop Joseph ng c Ngân
of Lng Sn issued statements to show their solidarity and their
full support for Archbishop Joseph Ngô, priests, religious
and the faithful of Hanoi archdiocese.
IOn another occasion, Saigon archdiocese also published a strong-worded
letter from Cardinal Jean Baptiste Phm Minh Mn, archbishop of
Saigon, to the local government. On November 16, 2007, the local
government sent him an official letter in reply to a request which
he made more than three years earlier. In 2004, Cardinal Jean
Baptiste Phm demanded the requisition of a building within the
premises of Saigon Major Seminary. After more than three years
of waiting, he was told that his request was unsuccessful.
In the letter published last week, dated December 17, 2007, Cardinal
Jean Baptiste Phm said that he was "shocked at both reasons
for the rejection of his request, and at the long waiting time".
Along with the letter from Cardinal Jean Baptiste Phm, Saigon
archdiocese also published a statement in which the Cardinal stated
that the building "was seized illegally by the local government".
The building had been used to house foreign missionaries until
it was confiscated in 1976 when all missionaries were deported.
The government argued that the building was a foreign property.
But, "French missionaries were only the resident", the
statement of Saigon archdiocese argued back, "they were not
the owner of the building. Therefore, when they left Vietnam,
the building remained a property of the archdiocese, of the Church
in Vietnam".
Source: An Dong
© Independent Catholic
News 2008
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