Hanoi Catholics become more and more impatient with the progress in the requisition of the former nunciature while state-run media continue to attack them. Whether the government keeps its promises is a burning question for Catholics in Vietnam capital.
In the February 1 statement, Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi confirmed reports that the government of Vietnam had agreed to restore the office of the apostolic nuncio in Hanoi after more than a month of public protests by Catholics. On the same day, the protesters agreed to remove a cross and tents from a one hectare (2.5-acre) piece of mostly-vacant land about a block from St. Joseph's Cathedral ending more than a month of protests in Hanoi aimed at pressing the Communist government for the return of Church land seized 50 years ago.
Figure1: New panel erected with communist symbols
However, the vision of getting the former nunciature back in a near future seems to fade away. Public workers repainted the fence surrounding the site, strengthened the gates, and erected new panels with communist symbols and slogans reiterating that the building is state-owned. In addition, new security measures have been imposed. Security forces are ordered to intervene immediately if anyone stops by to pray in front of the nunciature. Also, no candles are allowed to put on the fence. These signals cast a cloud of suspicion on the willingness of the government to return the building.
While many still cling to the hope that the government would keep its promises, there are growing concerns within Catholic circles that unless they take some bolder approaches, things will go nowhere.
More alarming, state-run media continue to attack Hanoi Catholics. This time it comes from the state-owned magazine “Catholics and People”. Its name and contents may suggest that it belongs to the Church. However, in fact, the “Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics”, an organization within the communist party runs it.
In the weekly issue 1644 (15-22 February), the magazine stands on the government’s side arguing that Catholics have illegally challenged the legal rights of the authorities to administrate the building through demonstrations which have damaged the good images of Catholics. It states that in 1959, when Archbishop John Jarlath Dooley, S.S.C.M.E (1906 – 1999), the then Apostolic Delegate to Vietnam, left the country, the building became a vacant property. So, according to state law, the government legally seized it.
Fr. Joseph Nguyen from Hanoi said that “As stated in the Archbishop statement on January 28, ‘The property at 40 Nha Chung Street including the former nunciature was, now is, and continues to be the property of Vietnamese Catholic Church. Several government agencies had used numerous methods to take control of it in unrighteous manners. It is an unlawful act’.”
“It is a blatant lie to say that the building was vacant in 1959.” he continues “The Church in Vietnam had been using it until the government seized it illegally by force”.
Meanwhile, Fr. Paul Tran in Saigon expressed his grave concern that “the orchestrated campaign of state-run media attacks to Catholics indicates things may be not easy as expected.” He feared that “the government is going to put forward to Vietnamese Bishops more conditions in exchange to the requisition of the former nunciature”.
Asked if the magazine “Catholics and People” has something to deal with the Church, Fr. Paul said “The Church in Vietnam has no other publication except the Communion, a bi-monthly magazine that the authorities only allow to publish 100 copies every two months.”
He further explained that “Vietnam government closely followed China in its religious policies. It struggled to build a state-approved Church, known as a Vietnamese Patriotic Church, separated from the Holy See. This attempt failed thanks to the fidelity of the Bishops, priests, religious and lay people to Christ and the Church. The ‘Catholics and People’ is one among the remains of that failed attempt”.
“When Catholics in Vietnam dare to stand up for justice, they get more popularity and the admiration of the oppressed which are more and more numerous in Vietnam”, said Sr. Marie Nguyen when asked if protests may damage the good images of Catholics. “What sort of ‘good images’, what sort of testimonies you can give to peoples when you remain silent to injustice?”, she asked.
In the February 1 statement, Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi confirmed reports that the government of Vietnam had agreed to restore the office of the apostolic nuncio in Hanoi after more than a month of public protests by Catholics. On the same day, the protesters agreed to remove a cross and tents from a one hectare (2.5-acre) piece of mostly-vacant land about a block from St. Joseph's Cathedral ending more than a month of protests in Hanoi aimed at pressing the Communist government for the return of Church land seized 50 years ago.
Figure1: New panel erected with communist symbols
However, the vision of getting the former nunciature back in a near future seems to fade away. Public workers repainted the fence surrounding the site, strengthened the gates, and erected new panels with communist symbols and slogans reiterating that the building is state-owned. In addition, new security measures have been imposed. Security forces are ordered to intervene immediately if anyone stops by to pray in front of the nunciature. Also, no candles are allowed to put on the fence. These signals cast a cloud of suspicion on the willingness of the government to return the building.
While many still cling to the hope that the government would keep its promises, there are growing concerns within Catholic circles that unless they take some bolder approaches, things will go nowhere.
More alarming, state-run media continue to attack Hanoi Catholics. This time it comes from the state-owned magazine “Catholics and People”. Its name and contents may suggest that it belongs to the Church. However, in fact, the “Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics”, an organization within the communist party runs it.
In the weekly issue 1644 (15-22 February), the magazine stands on the government’s side arguing that Catholics have illegally challenged the legal rights of the authorities to administrate the building through demonstrations which have damaged the good images of Catholics. It states that in 1959, when Archbishop John Jarlath Dooley, S.S.C.M.E (1906 – 1999), the then Apostolic Delegate to Vietnam, left the country, the building became a vacant property. So, according to state law, the government legally seized it.
Fr. Joseph Nguyen from Hanoi said that “As stated in the Archbishop statement on January 28, ‘The property at 40 Nha Chung Street including the former nunciature was, now is, and continues to be the property of Vietnamese Catholic Church. Several government agencies had used numerous methods to take control of it in unrighteous manners. It is an unlawful act’.”
“It is a blatant lie to say that the building was vacant in 1959.” he continues “The Church in Vietnam had been using it until the government seized it illegally by force”.
Meanwhile, Fr. Paul Tran in Saigon expressed his grave concern that “the orchestrated campaign of state-run media attacks to Catholics indicates things may be not easy as expected.” He feared that “the government is going to put forward to Vietnamese Bishops more conditions in exchange to the requisition of the former nunciature”.
Asked if the magazine “Catholics and People” has something to deal with the Church, Fr. Paul said “The Church in Vietnam has no other publication except the Communion, a bi-monthly magazine that the authorities only allow to publish 100 copies every two months.”
He further explained that “Vietnam government closely followed China in its religious policies. It struggled to build a state-approved Church, known as a Vietnamese Patriotic Church, separated from the Holy See. This attempt failed thanks to the fidelity of the Bishops, priests, religious and lay people to Christ and the Church. The ‘Catholics and People’ is one among the remains of that failed attempt”.
“When Catholics in Vietnam dare to stand up for justice, they get more popularity and the admiration of the oppressed which are more and more numerous in Vietnam”, said Sr. Marie Nguyen when asked if protests may damage the good images of Catholics. “What sort of ‘good images’, what sort of testimonies you can give to peoples when you remain silent to injustice?”, she asked.