Northern
bishops support for Vinh diocese, targeted by authorities
by
J.B. An Dang - AsiaNews
09/24/2013
In a letter the prelates confirm their closeness to
bishop, priests and faithful, all victims of attacks by the media and
government. Appeal for the release of the parishioners of My Yen and for
religious freedom . Religious tensions and "official" Catholic movements
obstacle to dialogue between Hanoi and the Holy See.
Hanoi ( AsiaNews) - The
bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Hanoi have joined the supporters of
the Bishop of Vinh and the faithful of the parish of My Yen,
victims in the last weeks of a violent attack - physical and verbal - by
media and government authorities. In a letter to Msgr. Paul Nguyen Thai Hop on
September 21, the eight prelates of the province in northern Vietnam have
expressed "full support" to the bishop , the priests and the faithful. The
attacks against the faithful come as diplomatic efforts redouble with a series
of talks taking place between the Vatican and Vietnamese representatives in
Rome. However according to Curia sources problems persist on the path to
official diplomatic relations between the two sides.
In their letter, the bishops of northern Vietnam condemn the
4 September attack against worshipers, which was followed by a violent
smear campaign on the diocese of Vinh , calling them "a blatant violation"
of religious freedom. The prelates also call for the release of the two
parishioners from My yen, authorities failure to release them (as pre-announced)
led to the clashes.
The archbishop emeritus Archbishop of Hanoi Msgr. Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet and the
current Archbishop, Msgr. Peter Nguyen Van Nhon in a joint statement expressed
their " full support " for the diocese of Vinh, the bishop and the parish.
Meanwhile, the government media continue to give wide coverage to the meeting of
the Committee of Vietnamese Catholics , a sort of pro-government movement
founded in 1955 by the Communist Party to create a " Patriotic Church " . An
organization similar to the Chinese Patriotic Church , opposed by both Catholics
at home and the Vatican as unlawful. The two days of meetings held in Ho Chi
Minh City worries the Vietnamese faithful given the " scope " of the event ,
which was attended by 500 priests, religious and laity " faithful " to the Hanoi
regime .
Of course this meeting will not help dialogue between Hanoi and the Holy See ,
already marked by the violent repression in the parish of My Yen , Vinh diocese
, the northern province of Nghe An. In talks in Rome between the Vatican and the
Vietnamese delegation " tensions" have emerged over the diocese of Vinh even if
, at media level, they emphasize the desire to continue building "good relations
and cooperation."
Vietnam and the Holy See have not had official diplomatic relations since 1975,
but have been working since 2007 for the resumption of bilateral relations. To
achieve the goal the Joint Working Group was set up along with, since 2011, the
appointment of a non-permanent representative of the Holy See , Msgr. Leopoldo
Girelli . Vietnam - a nominally atheist country - controls the practice of
worship , including the activities of six million Catholics scattered throughout
the territory, in a systematic way. It is the most substantial community of
South- East Asia after the Philippines .