Tensions between the local government and Hanoi Catholics soared up on Sunday when thousands of Catholics gathered on a piece of disputed land next to Hanoi Redemptorist monastery in an open defiance of the local government orders to free the area and disperse demonstrations.
Thousands of Catholics from Hanoi and other northern provinces of Vietnam prayed at Hanoi Redemptorist monastery and protested at the land of dispute to show their solidarity with the Redemptorists and Thai Ha parishioners. A letter of support from Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi, who is currently visiting diocese of Orange County, USA, was read in demonstrations along with a letter from the provincial superior of the Redemptorists in Vietnam.
In his letter, Archbishop Joseph Ngo says that he is closely monitoring situation of the monastery and Thai Ha parish. “I am deeply in communion with you, the Monastery and Thai Ha parish and I hold them in my prayer. I call on every parishioner to be in communion with you, the Monastery and Thai Ha parish via their firm and persistent prayers,” says Archbishop Joseph Ngo.
In the second letter sent Sunday to all Redemptorists, Father Vincent Nguyen Trung Thanh states that the local government has illegally confiscated land belonging to their monastery and is conducting a media campaign against them and those who dare to fight for justice.
He briefed the standoff between protestors and police at a Redemptorist monastery in Hanoi erupted on 19th August, 2008 when security forces, who tried to destroy crucifixes and icons of the Virgin Mary that protestors had erected on a piece of disputed land, were confronted by thousands of Catholics rushed to the site to join with Redemptorists and their parishioners in an effort to protest the desecration.
Fr. Vincent Nguyen reports that the disputed property consists of 15 acres of land purchased by the Redemptorist religious order in 1928. Most of the Redemptorists in Vietnam were jailed or deported after the Communist takeover in 1954, leaving Fr Joseph Vu Ngoc Bich alone in charge of the land. Despite the pastor’s protests, local government authorities have seized the parish’s land one section at a time. The 15-acre plot has been reduced to about half an acre.
State media outlets have stated that the Redemptorists of Hanoi cannot claim the land since Fr Joseph Vu donated it on 24 November 1961. They accuse Catholics of engaging in “illegal activities” and exploiting religious freedom to cause protests against the government. State-run media have repeatedly called for “extreme actions” against the protestors.
Disproving arguments from state media, Fr. Nguyen says: “Fr. Joseph Vu repeatedly stated verbally and in writing that he never donated any sections of the land...On 8th of August, 1996, Fr. Vu, himself, sent the first letter to protest the transfer of ownership of the land from Dong Da Wool Rug Enterprise to Chien Thang Sewing Company... but to no avail”.
Citing an open letter from Hanoi’s Redemptorists, Fr. Vincent Nguyen emphasizes that “Our Redemptorist confreres in Hanoi never donated the land. They have all the papers needed to prove their ownership and want the property back as required by law”.
In conclusion, Father Nguyen “earnestly implores all of” Redemptorists, “the whole province of Vietnam, to be in solidarity with our brother Redemptorists in Hanoi" and announces that on Thursday, 28th August, there will be a vigil protest at Saigon Redemptorist monastery.
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| Thousands of Catholics gathered at the site |
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| Thousands of Catholics gathered at the site |
In his letter, Archbishop Joseph Ngo says that he is closely monitoring situation of the monastery and Thai Ha parish. “I am deeply in communion with you, the Monastery and Thai Ha parish and I hold them in my prayer. I call on every parishioner to be in communion with you, the Monastery and Thai Ha parish via their firm and persistent prayers,” says Archbishop Joseph Ngo.
In the second letter sent Sunday to all Redemptorists, Father Vincent Nguyen Trung Thanh states that the local government has illegally confiscated land belonging to their monastery and is conducting a media campaign against them and those who dare to fight for justice.
He briefed the standoff between protestors and police at a Redemptorist monastery in Hanoi erupted on 19th August, 2008 when security forces, who tried to destroy crucifixes and icons of the Virgin Mary that protestors had erected on a piece of disputed land, were confronted by thousands of Catholics rushed to the site to join with Redemptorists and their parishioners in an effort to protest the desecration.
Fr. Vincent Nguyen reports that the disputed property consists of 15 acres of land purchased by the Redemptorist religious order in 1928. Most of the Redemptorists in Vietnam were jailed or deported after the Communist takeover in 1954, leaving Fr Joseph Vu Ngoc Bich alone in charge of the land. Despite the pastor’s protests, local government authorities have seized the parish’s land one section at a time. The 15-acre plot has been reduced to about half an acre.
State media outlets have stated that the Redemptorists of Hanoi cannot claim the land since Fr Joseph Vu donated it on 24 November 1961. They accuse Catholics of engaging in “illegal activities” and exploiting religious freedom to cause protests against the government. State-run media have repeatedly called for “extreme actions” against the protestors.
Disproving arguments from state media, Fr. Nguyen says: “Fr. Joseph Vu repeatedly stated verbally and in writing that he never donated any sections of the land...On 8th of August, 1996, Fr. Vu, himself, sent the first letter to protest the transfer of ownership of the land from Dong Da Wool Rug Enterprise to Chien Thang Sewing Company... but to no avail”.
Citing an open letter from Hanoi’s Redemptorists, Fr. Vincent Nguyen emphasizes that “Our Redemptorist confreres in Hanoi never donated the land. They have all the papers needed to prove their ownership and want the property back as required by law”.
In conclusion, Father Nguyen “earnestly implores all of” Redemptorists, “the whole province of Vietnam, to be in solidarity with our brother Redemptorists in Hanoi" and announces that on Thursday, 28th August, there will be a vigil protest at Saigon Redemptorist monastery.