THE ARCHBISHOPRIC OF HANOI

40 Nha Chung St. Hanoi

Nov. 4, 2011

To: Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Phuong, C.Ss.R Pastor of Thai Ha parish

Dear Fr. Joseph and all brothers and sisters at Thai Ha parish.

His Excellency Archbishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon thanks you for the letter dated Nov. 3, 2011 to inform him of the incident taking place at 14:45 on the same day when "a group of about 100 people... pushing their way into the courtyard of Thai Ha parish church, with loud speakers in their hands blaring curses at the religious and the priests. They had scuffles with priests, religious and parishioners" (excerpt from the letter). The Archbishop would like to share with you all priests and brothers and sisters at Thai Ha his thoughts as follow:

1.The Archdiocese of Hanoi always asserts and respects the ownership rights of the Redemptorist Order on the 61,455 square meter piece of land located at 189 Nguyen Luong Bang, Dong Da, Hanoi, including the facility and the land lots being used by the state agencies in this area.

2. The Archdiocese of Hanoi decries the uncultured and unlawful actions of those who intruded into the courtyard of the Thai Ha church and monastery with words of such offensive provocative and violent nature as described above.

The Archdiocese of Hanoi is always in communion in prayers with the Thai Ha monastery and parish, invoking Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Alfonsus' intercession, pleading to God our Father of mercy in granting your monastery and parish peace, your legitimate rights respected, your land and property disputes to be resolved in fairness, truth and mutual compassion.

In Christ,

Rev. Alfonse Pham Hung

Chancellor of the Archdiocese