Despite mass public protests by Vietnamese Catholics and expressions of concern from around the world, state officials have renewed their assault on a Hanoi parish. Three novices of the Society of St. Anthony of Padua were severely beaten and imprisoned when they joined lay parishioners in prayer at the site of several recent clashes.
“A group of police attacked the three novices after they had attended Eucharistic adoration at Dong Chiem church,” Father John Luu Ngoc Quynh, the spiritual adviser of the congregation reported.
On January 25, state media had reported the withdrawal of hundreds of police from Dong Chiem “in order to restore normalcy in life there.” However, a local parish source has reporte the presence of a large number of plainclothes policemen who are ready to assault any outsiders trying to enter the building-- thus putting the virtually under siege
“A group of police attacked the three novices after they had attended Eucharistic adoration at Dong Chiem church,” Father John Luu Ngoc Quynh, the spiritual adviser of the congregation reported.
On January 25, state media had reported the withdrawal of hundreds of police from Dong Chiem “in order to restore normalcy in life there.” However, a local parish source has reporte the presence of a large number of plainclothes policemen who are ready to assault any outsiders trying to enter the building-- thus putting the virtually under siege