Church-state tension threatens to boil over again after the capital government has demanded the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops to transfer Redemptorists out of Hanoi.
It is the urgent demand against “Mr. Chairman of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops” and “Mr. Redemptorist Provincial Superior” that Hanoi Redemptorists “must be transferred out of the area of the capital,” wrote the chairman of Hanoi in an official correspondence signed on Friday Dec. 12.
In the correspondence, sent to Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon of Dalat diocese - the president of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops; and to Fr. Vincent Nguyen Trung Thanh - the Vietnam Redemptorist Provincial Superior, Nguyen The Thao accused Hanoi Redemptorists of “smearing the system of justice in Vietnam” asking for their transfer out of his area.
Thao stated that the trial against 8 parishioners of Thai Ha on Dec. 8 was “fair and conforming to the law”. He accused in particular Redemptorist Fr. John Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong of “insulting and ridiculing the court” by saying that it was “a court of devils.”
Threatening legal actions against Fr. Nam Phong, Thao demanded Bishop Peter Nguyen and Fr. Vincent Nguyen to immediately transfer out of his area Fr. Mathew Vu Khoi Phung, the superior of Hanoi Monastery; Fr. Peter Nguyen Van Khai; Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van That; and Fr. John Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong.
It is not the first time Nguyen The Thao has put before Vietnamese Bishops such a demand. Just three months ago, in the letter dated Sep. 23, 2008, sent to Vietnamese Bishops during their annual conference at Xuan Loc, Thao asked the conference to consider and duly reprimand, pursuant to the Church’s discipline, archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet and Hanoi Redemptorists for what he described as “inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law, instigating others to violate it.”
In particular, he asked the conference to “punish severely” and to “transfer them out of Hanoi’s area”. The bishops have answered him by defending Hanoi's prelate, Redemptorists, and their flock. "They have not done anything against current Church Canon Law," bishops confirmed.
The latest move from Hanoi government has worried parishioners of Thai Ha. “After the trial, our troubles have not ended. I realise they are just the beginning,” said Lan Tran a parishioner.
For many Catholics in Hanoi, the reason underneath this extremely begrudging move is that the local government seems to be upset with people’s reactions after the trials. It seems the trial has turned the table around for the eight defendants whose courage has become symbolic of defiance and grace under fire. They are viewed as heroes in the eyes of their fellow countrymen while the Vietnam government -the accuser- now becomes the accused for imposing such an unjust, immoral and unconstitutional on its citizens. Bishops have publicly praised them as witnesses of truth and faith, and thanksgiving Masses have been celebrated throughout the country.
However, others attribute the move for the revenge of government officials for their loss of economic interests after the plots of land at Thai Ha and at the nunciature have been bulldozed for public parks.
It is the urgent demand against “Mr. Chairman of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops” and “Mr. Redemptorist Provincial Superior” that Hanoi Redemptorists “must be transferred out of the area of the capital,” wrote the chairman of Hanoi in an official correspondence signed on Friday Dec. 12.
In the correspondence, sent to Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon of Dalat diocese - the president of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops; and to Fr. Vincent Nguyen Trung Thanh - the Vietnam Redemptorist Provincial Superior, Nguyen The Thao accused Hanoi Redemptorists of “smearing the system of justice in Vietnam” asking for their transfer out of his area.
Thao stated that the trial against 8 parishioners of Thai Ha on Dec. 8 was “fair and conforming to the law”. He accused in particular Redemptorist Fr. John Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong of “insulting and ridiculing the court” by saying that it was “a court of devils.”
Threatening legal actions against Fr. Nam Phong, Thao demanded Bishop Peter Nguyen and Fr. Vincent Nguyen to immediately transfer out of his area Fr. Mathew Vu Khoi Phung, the superior of Hanoi Monastery; Fr. Peter Nguyen Van Khai; Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van That; and Fr. John Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong.
It is not the first time Nguyen The Thao has put before Vietnamese Bishops such a demand. Just three months ago, in the letter dated Sep. 23, 2008, sent to Vietnamese Bishops during their annual conference at Xuan Loc, Thao asked the conference to consider and duly reprimand, pursuant to the Church’s discipline, archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet and Hanoi Redemptorists for what he described as “inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law, instigating others to violate it.”
In particular, he asked the conference to “punish severely” and to “transfer them out of Hanoi’s area”. The bishops have answered him by defending Hanoi's prelate, Redemptorists, and their flock. "They have not done anything against current Church Canon Law," bishops confirmed.
The latest move from Hanoi government has worried parishioners of Thai Ha. “After the trial, our troubles have not ended. I realise they are just the beginning,” said Lan Tran a parishioner.
For many Catholics in Hanoi, the reason underneath this extremely begrudging move is that the local government seems to be upset with people’s reactions after the trials. It seems the trial has turned the table around for the eight defendants whose courage has become symbolic of defiance and grace under fire. They are viewed as heroes in the eyes of their fellow countrymen while the Vietnam government -the accuser- now becomes the accused for imposing such an unjust, immoral and unconstitutional on its citizens. Bishops have publicly praised them as witnesses of truth and faith, and thanksgiving Masses have been celebrated throughout the country.
However, others attribute the move for the revenge of government officials for their loss of economic interests after the plots of land at Thai Ha and at the nunciature have been bulldozed for public parks.