Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hanoi (Agenzia Fides) – The violence taking place against religious and faithful in the parish of Dong Chiem, in Hanoi, are causing serious concern even in Vatican circles. After the visit of President Nguyen Minh Triet and his meeting with Pope Benedict XVI - with all the wishes and hopes expressed on that occasion - everyone expected more understanding of the government towards those who believe in Christ, and not such violent reactions and such blatant obstacles to be placed in the way of freedom of worship and religion.
The situation in the parish of Dong Chiem in the Archdiocese of Hanoi has rapidly degenerated, an authoritative Vietnamese source tells Fides. After police destroyed a cross on a hill in the Dong Chiem on January 6, religious and faithful who were protesting peacefully were arrested and beaten (the latest victim is Redemptorist brother Anthony Nguyen Van Tang, who was brutally beaten) and the parish was surrounded by police, preventing access to anyone.
Indignation and protests arose in the Church of Vietnam and even abroad, where the Vietnamese community in diaspora re-launched and disseminated the news of the violence. "This is about the attack on a religious symbol like the crucifix: destroying it has a meaning that goes beyond the simple gesture," says Fides' source. The authorities explained that the crucifix had been placed without permission on state land and denied having used violence against demonstrators.
The Archdiocese of Hanoi has issued a statement saying: "After having attacked and destroyed the cross of Mount Tho, local authorities continue to terrorize the faithful of the parish, insulting and slandering the pastor and the faithful of Dong Chiem. At the same time, they have also deployed hundreds of policemen to lay siege to the parish and prohibit access." Noting this groundless repression, the text calls on "the whole family of faithful of the Archdiocese to continue to pray for the church of Dong Chiem and the faithful who have been beaten and arrested," with the conviction that they "are united to the mystery of Christ's Cross.” Lastly, the statement calls for "fundamental respect for human rights so that peace, justice, and democracy may reign in the country.”
The Bishops of the ecclesiastical province of North Vietnam have offered full support to Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi, in a letter expressing their "feelings of deep emotion and solidarity" for the event, "deploring the attitude of the government in the conflicts that oppose the different religious communities" and stressing that "the Catholic Church intends to participate in the edification of one great Vietnamese family, living in peace and in mutual respect." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/01/2010)
