Bishop of Hung Hoa urges everyone to pray more intensely for Thai Ha and the Church in Vietnam at this difficult time accusing the state-run media of lying.
In a Letter of Communion sent to the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorists in Vietnam and the Superior of Thai Ha Monastery, dated Sep. 9, Bishop Anthony Vu Huy Chuong of Hung Hoa gives his full support for Vietnamese Redemptorists in their effort to regain their land in Thai Ha – Hanoi.
“I have prayed,” writes Bishop Anthony Vu, “for justice and the truth may be honored not only in Thai Ha but also in anywhere that people still have to suffer injustice and dishonesty,” complaining that his diocese is not an exception.
“Recently,” Bishop Anthony Vu illustrates, “the pastor of Can Kiem parish confirmed with me that the man who spoke on state television against Thai Ha on behalf of Can Kiem parishioners is in fact a local government official – not a Catholic at all.”
The tidal waves of falsely accusations and distortions against Catholics by state run television, radio, and newspaper are “extremely sad and wearisome”, he added asking Catholics to pray more intensely on the Birth of the Virgin Mary feast “for the Church in Vietnam and the nation.”
In another incident, state newspapers on Sep. 7 introduced two men Pham Huy Ba and Nguyen Van Nhat as Catholic priests who spoke against protestors at Thai Ha. However, archdiocese of Hanoi confirmed immediately that they are not Catholic priests – “They are never ever priests. It is the government who ‘ordained’ them,” the report said.
Meanwhile, thousands of Catholics keep protesting at Thai Ha every day.
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| Thousands of Catholics at Thai Ha every day |
“I have prayed,” writes Bishop Anthony Vu, “for justice and the truth may be honored not only in Thai Ha but also in anywhere that people still have to suffer injustice and dishonesty,” complaining that his diocese is not an exception.
“Recently,” Bishop Anthony Vu illustrates, “the pastor of Can Kiem parish confirmed with me that the man who spoke on state television against Thai Ha on behalf of Can Kiem parishioners is in fact a local government official – not a Catholic at all.”
The tidal waves of falsely accusations and distortions against Catholics by state run television, radio, and newspaper are “extremely sad and wearisome”, he added asking Catholics to pray more intensely on the Birth of the Virgin Mary feast “for the Church in Vietnam and the nation.”
In another incident, state newspapers on Sep. 7 introduced two men Pham Huy Ba and Nguyen Van Nhat as Catholic priests who spoke against protestors at Thai Ha. However, archdiocese of Hanoi confirmed immediately that they are not Catholic priests – “They are never ever priests. It is the government who ‘ordained’ them,” the report said.
Meanwhile, thousands of Catholics keep protesting at Thai Ha every day.