Hue, Oct. 14, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Re-enacting a drama that has become familiar in Hanoi, Catholics in Vietnam's Hue archdiocese are protesting government plans to seize and bulldoze a piece of property claimed by Church owners.
On October 11, local government officials in the Thua Thien province ordered Catholics in the An Bang parish to remove the crucifix and altar from their church. The government intends to demolish the parish church, claiming that it is located on public property. The An Bang parishioners are refusing the government order, and protests on the disputed site have begun.
For most of the year, Catholics in Hanoi have staged similar public demonstrations, protesting the government's seizure of property-- most notably at the site once occupied by the apostolic nuncio and at a Redemptorist monastery. In both cases, government officials have announced plans to clear the lots and construct public parks.
In the Hue archdiocese, Father Peter Nguyen Huu Giai, the pastor of the imperiled An Bang parish, says that authorities have shown no legal document to support their claim on the property. He reports that the land belonged to a parishioner, who died a few years ago, but "his children are still there, and they own the land legally." The Catholics of the village-- most of them living in poverty-- built a small church on the land with the permission of the owner, Father Nguyen recalls. Local officials never objected to that agreement until after the original owner's death, he says.
Facing the defiance of the An Bang parishioners, the local government has launched a campaign of harassment and intimidation. “Every morning, from 5:30 am, the loudspeakers start talking on state religious policy, and on how this government respects the Catholic Church. The chorus has been repeated every day. Numerous parishioners have been summoned. Just yesterday, a lot of people were questioned individually as if they had committed a serious crime,” the pastor reported.
The pastor himself has been in trouble with police. “Yesterday, I had been interrogated at the police station of Phu Vang district straight from 8:30 until 10:30 in the morning. They charged me with many offenses but I rejected each of them,” he reports.
“They are going to remove our Cross and altar themselves,” Fr. Peter reported. “It’s up to them, but we won’t do that despite of their pressure,” he persisted.
The incident, coupled with the previous clashes in Hanoi, has raised a concern that in more Church properties, especially at the remote areas, will soon to be seized by local authorities
On October 11, local government officials in the Thua Thien province ordered Catholics in the An Bang parish to remove the crucifix and altar from their church. The government intends to demolish the parish church, claiming that it is located on public property. The An Bang parishioners are refusing the government order, and protests on the disputed site have begun.
For most of the year, Catholics in Hanoi have staged similar public demonstrations, protesting the government's seizure of property-- most notably at the site once occupied by the apostolic nuncio and at a Redemptorist monastery. In both cases, government officials have announced plans to clear the lots and construct public parks.
In the Hue archdiocese, Father Peter Nguyen Huu Giai, the pastor of the imperiled An Bang parish, says that authorities have shown no legal document to support their claim on the property. He reports that the land belonged to a parishioner, who died a few years ago, but "his children are still there, and they own the land legally." The Catholics of the village-- most of them living in poverty-- built a small church on the land with the permission of the owner, Father Nguyen recalls. Local officials never objected to that agreement until after the original owner's death, he says.
Facing the defiance of the An Bang parishioners, the local government has launched a campaign of harassment and intimidation. “Every morning, from 5:30 am, the loudspeakers start talking on state religious policy, and on how this government respects the Catholic Church. The chorus has been repeated every day. Numerous parishioners have been summoned. Just yesterday, a lot of people were questioned individually as if they had committed a serious crime,” the pastor reported.
The pastor himself has been in trouble with police. “Yesterday, I had been interrogated at the police station of Phu Vang district straight from 8:30 until 10:30 in the morning. They charged me with many offenses but I rejected each of them,” he reports.
“They are going to remove our Cross and altar themselves,” Fr. Peter reported. “It’s up to them, but we won’t do that despite of their pressure,” he persisted.
The incident, coupled with the previous clashes in Hanoi, has raised a concern that in more Church properties, especially at the remote areas, will soon to be seized by local authorities