Archbishopric of Ho Chi Minh City
To: All Priests, Religious and Faithful in our diocesan family.
Dear brothers and sisters,
1. In recent days, public media continuously broadcast news and pictures relating to the incident in Thai Ha parish which is under the Redemptorists’ pastoral care. Many brothers and sisters in our diocese have become bewildered, confused of what is really happening and how to react appropriately. I, therefore, would like to share with you what I know from other sources of information, so all of us can be on the same page in finding the truth and justice while resolving the social issues in general and land disputes, in particular.
2. First of all, having listened to the feedbacks of many residents of the city, I have learned that there have been wide spread concerns that the state-run media outlets have only provided one-way information. Many have criticized that the whole picture portrayed by these outlets was only unilateral, and the truth has been truncated and distorted. That sort of information is to serve only personal interests of an individual or parties, not for the social welfare of the people, nor the stable development of the country as a whole.
3. Next, I have met the provincial superior of the Redemptorist Order and learned that the Redemptorist monastery and Thai Ha parish have all the legal and historical documents to substantiate their claim of the property in dispute, that the Redemptorist Order –Thai Ha parish are its rightful owner. Also, there has never been any document showing a transfer, usage authorization, donation or consecration to any organization or legal authority. The Redemptorist Order and Thai Ha parish, therefore, are determined in demanding the truth and justice on their property issue, in pursuant to what the constitution and the law of Vietnam have set forth, as well as the international laws which Vietnam has signed and pledged to abide.
4. Furthermore, information coming from public officials told me:
a. The land law, though has been revised 5 times, is still bearing a lot of nonsenses. Many decrees and instructions overlap one another, and numerous articles contradict to each other.
b. In several regions, many complaints which had been solved by federal inspectors were not carried out by provincial governments.
c. There have been numerous complaints everywhere as government officials keep making mistakes without being reprimanded. Human error is inevitable. However, in that case, correction should be a must.
d. The government must sit down with complainants, listen to them and take each case seriously (Saigon Liberated News, issue#11209, Sunday 8/31/2008).
5. Besides those pieces of information, as Catholic, we need to be knowledgeable of the Church’s teachings on the issue. In the spirit of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, as the late Pope John Paul II had specifically pointed out and later Pope Benedict XI reiterated, the Church’s policy is to hold talks to all concerned parties in order to resolve every social issue with frank dialogue in respect for the truth, justice, and charity. The truth is the honest reflection of the realm. Justice is in accordance with morality, common sense, and public interest. Humanity is the brotherly reciprocity necessary to serve the living and happiness of all in the national as well as the international communities. Such dialogue will lead to a mutual cooperation in the process of building and developing this country in to a stable one.
6. When the law is still inadequate in both reasonable and sentimental aspects, then it is not suitable for the truth and justice. As the current land law is still containing numerous of nonsenses, and, on the other hand, authorities in many regions only blindly follow orders from their superiors without listening to people, nor taking each claim into consideration seriously; many disputes have been dragged on for too long, the Thai Ha claim is no exception. Blindly carrying out nonsense orders, abusing power, and using excessive force will not solve the problem, rather only cause more injustice and social instability.
7. In summary, secular authorities need to respect the truth, treat others justly and encourage humanity and forgiveness. That is the foundation for a frank dialogue and sincerely cooperation among the social components, in order for us to build and develop this country into stable one.
In the spirit of brotherly accordance, we earnestly pray that God, with the intercession from the Holy Mother, will grant Thai Ha’s parishioners and the Redemptorists as well as other parties enlightenment, peace, strength so that they can talk to one another frankly and sincerely, in order for the case to be resolved in the light of truth, justice and charity.
Ho Chi Minh City, 9/01/2008
+ Cardinal John the Baptist Pham Minh Man
Archbishop of Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City
(signed)
Translated from Vietnamese by VietCatholic Network
PASTORAL LETTER
To: All Priests, Religious and Faithful in our diocesan family.
Dear brothers and sisters,
1. In recent days, public media continuously broadcast news and pictures relating to the incident in Thai Ha parish which is under the Redemptorists’ pastoral care. Many brothers and sisters in our diocese have become bewildered, confused of what is really happening and how to react appropriately. I, therefore, would like to share with you what I know from other sources of information, so all of us can be on the same page in finding the truth and justice while resolving the social issues in general and land disputes, in particular.
2. First of all, having listened to the feedbacks of many residents of the city, I have learned that there have been wide spread concerns that the state-run media outlets have only provided one-way information. Many have criticized that the whole picture portrayed by these outlets was only unilateral, and the truth has been truncated and distorted. That sort of information is to serve only personal interests of an individual or parties, not for the social welfare of the people, nor the stable development of the country as a whole.
3. Next, I have met the provincial superior of the Redemptorist Order and learned that the Redemptorist monastery and Thai Ha parish have all the legal and historical documents to substantiate their claim of the property in dispute, that the Redemptorist Order –Thai Ha parish are its rightful owner. Also, there has never been any document showing a transfer, usage authorization, donation or consecration to any organization or legal authority. The Redemptorist Order and Thai Ha parish, therefore, are determined in demanding the truth and justice on their property issue, in pursuant to what the constitution and the law of Vietnam have set forth, as well as the international laws which Vietnam has signed and pledged to abide.
4. Furthermore, information coming from public officials told me:
a. The land law, though has been revised 5 times, is still bearing a lot of nonsenses. Many decrees and instructions overlap one another, and numerous articles contradict to each other.
b. In several regions, many complaints which had been solved by federal inspectors were not carried out by provincial governments.
c. There have been numerous complaints everywhere as government officials keep making mistakes without being reprimanded. Human error is inevitable. However, in that case, correction should be a must.
d. The government must sit down with complainants, listen to them and take each case seriously (Saigon Liberated News, issue#11209, Sunday 8/31/2008).
5. Besides those pieces of information, as Catholic, we need to be knowledgeable of the Church’s teachings on the issue. In the spirit of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, as the late Pope John Paul II had specifically pointed out and later Pope Benedict XI reiterated, the Church’s policy is to hold talks to all concerned parties in order to resolve every social issue with frank dialogue in respect for the truth, justice, and charity. The truth is the honest reflection of the realm. Justice is in accordance with morality, common sense, and public interest. Humanity is the brotherly reciprocity necessary to serve the living and happiness of all in the national as well as the international communities. Such dialogue will lead to a mutual cooperation in the process of building and developing this country in to a stable one.
6. When the law is still inadequate in both reasonable and sentimental aspects, then it is not suitable for the truth and justice. As the current land law is still containing numerous of nonsenses, and, on the other hand, authorities in many regions only blindly follow orders from their superiors without listening to people, nor taking each claim into consideration seriously; many disputes have been dragged on for too long, the Thai Ha claim is no exception. Blindly carrying out nonsense orders, abusing power, and using excessive force will not solve the problem, rather only cause more injustice and social instability.
7. In summary, secular authorities need to respect the truth, treat others justly and encourage humanity and forgiveness. That is the foundation for a frank dialogue and sincerely cooperation among the social components, in order for us to build and develop this country into stable one.
In the spirit of brotherly accordance, we earnestly pray that God, with the intercession from the Holy Mother, will grant Thai Ha’s parishioners and the Redemptorists as well as other parties enlightenment, peace, strength so that they can talk to one another frankly and sincerely, in order for the case to be resolved in the light of truth, justice and charity.
Ho Chi Minh City, 9/01/2008
+ Cardinal John the Baptist Pham Minh Man
Archbishop of Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City
(signed)
Translated from Vietnamese by VietCatholic Network