Viet Catholics mount largest-ever public protest in Hanoi

09-09-2008

Hanoi, Sep. 8, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Public protests by Vietnamese Catholics continued this weekend, with two more bishops joining on September 6 in the largest public demonstration since the Communist regime took power.

Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi issued a public statement in support of the demonstrations, in which Catholics have gathered to pray at the site of properties that were seized by the government from Church ownership. The archbishop said that all petitions for the restoration of the land have fallen on deaf ears, and Catholics in their desperation have been left wth no choice other than peaceful protests.

In the September 6 demonstration at Thai Ha parish in Hanoi, more than 6,000 people braved a cold rain to attend a prayer vigil. The demonstration might have been still larger, but authorities blocked many would-be participants who were traveling from the neighboring provinces of Phat Diem and Thai Nguyen.

"We are here from many regions of the country to pray with our Mother of Perpetual Help," said Bishop Joseph Nguyen Van Yen, "to be in communion and in solidarity with you in this difficult time. We are here to pray for the truth and justice."

Hanoi's Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet rejected the charges of the state-owned media that the public prayer vigils were illegal. He told Radio Free Asia that "the situation will get more complicated" if government officials continue to ignore demands for the restoration of Church properties.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60178