Redemptorists urge Hanoi Catholics to remain calm after attacks
Catholic News Service
Tuesday, 08 November 2011
HANOI, Vietnam - Redemptorists at a Hanoi parish have urged local Catholics to
keep calm after a mob led by government officials attacked a convent and church
in early November.
The Asian church news agency UCA News reported tens of thousands of people
attended 10 special Masses celebrated Nov. 5-6 at Thai Ha Church in the capital.
Each Mass was attended by an estimated 3,000-5,000 people.
During the Masses, priests told parishioners about the attacks and appealed to
them to stay calm.
On Nov. 3, around 100 people, accompanied by security officials and members of
the press, attacked the convent. They damaged a gate and verbally abused and
physically assaulted several Redemptorist priests and laypeople.
They fled after the church's bell rang out, bringing many people to the scene,
UCA News reported.
"We strongly condemn this violent, rude and organized attack," Redemptorist
Father Joseph Nguyen Van Phuong, parish pastor, told one congregation. He urged
them to "forgive them and avoid retaliation."
He said the motive behind the attack probably stems from an ongoing dispute with
the government over seized church property.
"We are determined to fight for church property in a peaceful way and urge the
government to punish the rioters," he added.
Local state-run media reported the attackers were locals who were angry at
parish opposition to a government-run sewage treatment project close to the
nearby Dong Da hospital.
Church sources told UCA News that on Oct. 27 about 40 Redemptorists and
parishioners took to the streets to oppose the project and demand the return of
several of the hospital's buildings, which had been convents from 1931 until the
government "borrowed" them in 1959.
The same sources said the authorities plan to demolish the buildings.
On Nov. 7, hundreds of local Catholics marched to the headquarters of the
People's Committee in Quang Trung ward to demand the authorities respect private
ownership and return what they say belongs to the church.
They said 97 old church facilities in Hanoi are in the hands of the government.