Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh of Kontum in Vietnam
Ucanindia | Oct 21, 2015
Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh of Kontum in Vietnam issued an open letter to local government questioning the motive behind its effort todestroy a makeshift Catholic church in a remote village.
In his letter, Bishop Hoang Duc Oanh summarized in chronological order the series of actions taken by the local communist officials since June 2015 to harass his flock in Daknu. Hestrongly expresses the resentful feeling of people of faith when the authorities keep ignoring the people’s repeated request for the permission to build new church to provide service to an expanding Catholic population.
The prelate expressed concern that local authorities at all levels have tried all tricks to take down any house of worship the faithful trying to build regardless the size or material being used to set up the shack.
He pointed out the incident on June 28 when Daknu parishioners attempted to upgrade their old worship hut with corrugate roof and new columns made from tree trunks, the government immediately responded with an order to dismantle the new shack. The order was followed by bribe of alcohol to families to push for compliance. Even the priests were summoned by the People’s Committee to be lectured on the need of parishioners to obey the order. None of their efforts were successful and people started to take turn guarding the new build church around the clock.
The bishop expressed his concern about the ripple effect on other 202 worship huts throughout Kontum should this makeshift church be brought down. He reiterated the need for respecting the law on freedom of religion as guaranteed by Vietnam Constitution. He even suggested a fine payment in exchange for the newly reconstructed house of worship to stay in existence, or even a court trial to settle the dispute once in for all.
Vietnam’s 87 million people include 48 percent Buddhists, more than 7 percent Catholics, 5.6 percent syncretistic and 20 percent atheist. Though small in numbers, the Christian community is particularly active in education, health and social affairs.
Recently, the Vietnamese bishops – especially the Bishop of Kontum and the Bishop of Vinh – strongly criticized Hanoi’s bill on “Faith and religion” which violates the freedom of religion and limits worship. The prelates have stressed that the proposed norm contrasts with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam which, in principle, protects worship.
Source: Vietcatholic.net/ Vatican Radio
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October 21, 2015
Vietnam Bishop asks to end harassing Catholics
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights]
Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh of Kontum in Vietnam
Ucanindia | Oct 21, 2015
Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh of Kontum in Vietnam issued an open letter to local government questioning the motive behind its effort todestroy a makeshift Catholic church in a remote village.
In his letter, Bishop Hoang Duc Oanh summarized in chronological order the series of actions taken by the local communist officials since June 2015 to harass his flock in Daknu. Hestrongly expresses the resentful feeling of people of faith when the authorities keep ignoring the people’s repeated request for the permission to build new church to provide service to an expanding Catholic population.
The prelate expressed concern that local authorities at all levels have tried all tricks to take down any house of worship the faithful trying to build regardless the size or material being used to set up the shack.
He pointed out the incident on June 28 when Daknu parishioners attempted to upgrade their old worship hut with corrugate roof and new columns made from tree trunks, the government immediately responded with an order to dismantle the new shack. The order was followed by bribe of alcohol to families to push for compliance. Even the priests were summoned by the People’s Committee to be lectured on the need of parishioners to obey the order. None of their efforts were successful and people started to take turn guarding the new build church around the clock.
The bishop expressed his concern about the ripple effect on other 202 worship huts throughout Kontum should this makeshift church be brought down. He reiterated the need for respecting the law on freedom of religion as guaranteed by Vietnam Constitution. He even suggested a fine payment in exchange for the newly reconstructed house of worship to stay in existence, or even a court trial to settle the dispute once in for all.
Vietnam’s 87 million people include 48 percent Buddhists, more than 7 percent Catholics, 5.6 percent syncretistic and 20 percent atheist. Though small in numbers, the Christian community is particularly active in education, health and social affairs.
Recently, the Vietnamese bishops – especially the Bishop of Kontum and the Bishop of Vinh – strongly criticized Hanoi’s bill on “Faith and religion” which violates the freedom of religion and limits worship. The prelates have stressed that the proposed norm contrasts with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam which, in principle, protects worship.
Source: Vietcatholic.net/ Vatican Radio