Vietnamese Catholic Bishops, during their annual assembly, September 22-26, have replied Vietnam government’s accusations leveled against Hanoi’s Archbishop and Redemptorists stating that they did nothing wrong. They have also condemned a series of social issues from the corruption of government officials to the abuse of violence in order to depress people.
Nguyen The Thao, the chairman of the People’s Committee, who issued two separate warnings against Hanoi’s Archbishop and Redemptorists of Thai Ha monasteries, sent a letter to Vietnamese Bishops during their annual conference at Xuan Loc, south Vietnam.
In the letter dated Sep. 23, 2008, seen by Catholics as very “arrogant”, Thao asked the conference to consider and duly reprimand, pursuant to the Church’s discipline, archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, Rev. Vu Khoi Phung, also Rev Nguyen Van Khai, Rev Nguyen Van That and Rev. Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong for what he described as “inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law, instigating others to violate it.”
He asked the conference to “punish severely” and to “transfer them out of Hanoi’s area”.
The bishops have answered him by defending Hanoi's prelate, Redemptorists, and their flock. "They have not done anything against current Church Canon Law," bishops confirmed. Another long statement was also included in which bishops strongly condemned social issues in Vietnam: the unjust confiscation properties of individuals and churches, the audacity of the corruption that pervades the country, the injustice against the weak, and people of faith, the depression against people and religions, the abuse of violence of the government, and the dishonesty of state media.
Praising bishops on their strong stance against the injustice Hanoi’s archbishop and his flock have been suffered, Sr. Marie Nguyen from Saigon commented: “Catholics in Vietnam have been surprised at Thao’s vicious attacks against Hanoi’s archbishop, Redemptorists and their flock.”
“It's becoming apparent to the civilized world that Vietnam government is clueless at what they are doing. The most fundamental law in the Western world of which Vietnam is trying to adopt is the concept of ‘not guilty until proven guilty’ of the crime they believed to have committed prior to their arrest,” she added. Further “the decision to prosecute someone does not rest on the People Committee's shoulder simply because they are NOT the judicial officer who has the authority to decide whether a probable cause has existed.”
“The Vietnam government and the People Committee of Hanoi should take a hard look at themselves and careful consider any decision they are about to make regarding the fate of their adversary in the Thai Ha and Hanoi nunciature disputes unless they are too consumed with the fear of an uprising that they would act foolishly thus becoming a laughing stock for the world they are trying to impress. How arrogant yet ridiculous Thao’s letter sounds?”” Sr. Marie concluded.
Here is the full text of the reply letter.
To: The People’s Committee of Hanoi City
Dear Committee,
We have received your correspondence 1437/UBND-NC signed by Mr. Nguyen The Thao, Chairman of the People’ Committee, city of Hanoi on Sept. 23, 2008, regarding “Handling of priests’ violation in Hanoi archdiocese”
In this correspondence, the Committee suggested the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops to “consider and duly reprimand, pursuant to the Church’s guidelines, archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, Rev. Vu Khoi Phung, also Rev Nguyen Van Khai, Rev Nguyen Van That and Rev. Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong”.
After careful consideration, we concluded that these individuals have not done anything against current Church Canon Law.
Therefore, we would like to inform the Committee of our findings, also attached in this letter you would find another document which reflects the View of the Conference of Vietnamese bishops on a number of issues at hand, for your reference.
Respectfully,
On behalf of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops
President,
Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon
(signed and sealed)
Recipients:
- Office of Prime Minister of Vietnam
- Office of President of Vietnam
- The Committee of Religious Affairs
- The State Department
- The Redemptorist Congregation of Vietnam
38 Ky-Dong, Third District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Copy for record
Nguyen The Thao, the chairman of the People’s Committee, who issued two separate warnings against Hanoi’s Archbishop and Redemptorists of Thai Ha monasteries, sent a letter to Vietnamese Bishops during their annual conference at Xuan Loc, south Vietnam.
In the letter dated Sep. 23, 2008, seen by Catholics as very “arrogant”, Thao asked the conference to consider and duly reprimand, pursuant to the Church’s discipline, archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, Rev. Vu Khoi Phung, also Rev Nguyen Van Khai, Rev Nguyen Van That and Rev. Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong for what he described as “inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law, instigating others to violate it.”
He asked the conference to “punish severely” and to “transfer them out of Hanoi’s area”.
The bishops have answered him by defending Hanoi's prelate, Redemptorists, and their flock. "They have not done anything against current Church Canon Law," bishops confirmed. Another long statement was also included in which bishops strongly condemned social issues in Vietnam: the unjust confiscation properties of individuals and churches, the audacity of the corruption that pervades the country, the injustice against the weak, and people of faith, the depression against people and religions, the abuse of violence of the government, and the dishonesty of state media.
Praising bishops on their strong stance against the injustice Hanoi’s archbishop and his flock have been suffered, Sr. Marie Nguyen from Saigon commented: “Catholics in Vietnam have been surprised at Thao’s vicious attacks against Hanoi’s archbishop, Redemptorists and their flock.”
“It's becoming apparent to the civilized world that Vietnam government is clueless at what they are doing. The most fundamental law in the Western world of which Vietnam is trying to adopt is the concept of ‘not guilty until proven guilty’ of the crime they believed to have committed prior to their arrest,” she added. Further “the decision to prosecute someone does not rest on the People Committee's shoulder simply because they are NOT the judicial officer who has the authority to decide whether a probable cause has existed.”
“The Vietnam government and the People Committee of Hanoi should take a hard look at themselves and careful consider any decision they are about to make regarding the fate of their adversary in the Thai Ha and Hanoi nunciature disputes unless they are too consumed with the fear of an uprising that they would act foolishly thus becoming a laughing stock for the world they are trying to impress. How arrogant yet ridiculous Thao’s letter sounds?”” Sr. Marie concluded.
Here is the full text of the reply letter.
To: The People’s Committee of Hanoi City
Dear Committee,
We have received your correspondence 1437/UBND-NC signed by Mr. Nguyen The Thao, Chairman of the People’ Committee, city of Hanoi on Sept. 23, 2008, regarding “Handling of priests’ violation in Hanoi archdiocese”
In this correspondence, the Committee suggested the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops to “consider and duly reprimand, pursuant to the Church’s guidelines, archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, Rev. Vu Khoi Phung, also Rev Nguyen Van Khai, Rev Nguyen Van That and Rev. Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong”.
After careful consideration, we concluded that these individuals have not done anything against current Church Canon Law.
Therefore, we would like to inform the Committee of our findings, also attached in this letter you would find another document which reflects the View of the Conference of Vietnamese bishops on a number of issues at hand, for your reference.
Respectfully,
On behalf of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops
President,
Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon
(signed and sealed)
Recipients:
- Office of Prime Minister of Vietnam
- Office of President of Vietnam
- The Committee of Religious Affairs
- The State Department
- The Redemptorist Congregation of Vietnam
38 Ky-Dong, Third District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Copy for record