Action Appeal to All Vietnamese-American Cantholics to Support Our Mother Church in Vietnam
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In a united spirit and solidarity with our fellow Catholics in Hanoi, and with Our Mother Church in Vietnam, it is time for us to come together as one big Vietnamese-American Catholic community in the United States to take bolder and specific actions to lend our unwavering and faithful support to all our brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Hanoi.
In addition to our daily prayers, we must also contact our U.S. Senators and Representatives directly asking them to put more pressure on the current Communist government of Vietnam to abide by their own laws and Constitutions which are imposed on every citizen of this country
If the Catholic faithful in Hanoi do know how to unite in one by continuously conducting their own prayer vigils in front of the former Apostolic Nuncio’s Office, our Vietnamese Catholic faithful in America must take full advantage of our democracy and freedom to take part in this peaceful campaign right here in America, in addition to our daily communion prayers, to support our fellow faithful.
We are called to take actions together and in full force by writing, emailing, and faxing our letter to all U.S. Representatives and Senators where we live, asking them to put more pressure on the current Communist government of Vietnam, as well as to put Vietnam back in the Countries of Particular Concerned or CPC list because they have violated against the basic rights of every human being, tortured, arrested, and terrorized our Catholic faithful in Hanoi in their peaceful fight to get back the former Apostolic Nuncio’s Office.
Thus, to do this more effectively and productively, we would like to suggest the following ways:
* Step 1:
a. You can print the English-version of the Sample Letter below, and then mail it to your Senators and Representatives in your state.
b.You can also copy this Sample Letter, save in somewhere on your computer and then send it via email to your Senators and Representatives in your state.
To get the fullname, complete mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses of your Senators and Representatives, please visit the following websites:
c. Senators in the U.S. Senate, please visit http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
This website lists all the details of 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate, 110th session.
Or you can also visit the U.S. Senate website directly at: http://www.senate.gov
d. Congressmen/women in the U.S. House of Representatives at 50 states, please visit one of the following websites for more details at: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ or www.house.gov
From there, you can choose your own state from the List
Please kindly note that in order to contact your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, you must know your 5-digit Zip Code along with additional 4-digit number that follows.
For example: the 5-digit Zip Code and additional 4-digit number that follows of South Dakota state are: 57401-6052
To know these numbers, you can look at any letter you have received either from Electric Company, or from the Bank, etc. because it will list your specific 5-digit Zip Code and additional 4-digit that follows right after the Zip Code. Or you can check this at your local Post Office or visit their website at www.ups.com
Unlike U.S. Senate which only has 100 Senators, the U.S. House of Representatives have more than 300 Representatives, and each was divided in according to your specific residential area in your state. Normally, you will have 2 Senators and only 1 Representative in the U.S. Congress.
If you decide to use the webmail form directly from the website of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives to send the attached Sample Letter, in Issue Area section, please choose Foreign Policy.
* Step 2:
After sending the attached Sample Letter to your Senators and Representative in the U.S. Congress in your state, please be so kind to drop us a note via email with the following details:
VNUSACalltoAction@gmail.com
(a) Name of the two Senators and Representative in the U.S. Congress that you just send the Letter to;
(b) The date that you send; and
(c) Your fullname.
With this provided information, we can compile a List, and do own own and face-to-face followup with these elected officials so that together we can push for the quick and immediate return of confiscated Church properties.
Thank you very much for your kind efforts and actions, and May God Bless our work so that Our Mother Church in Vietnam will soon enjoy a true freedom and democracy!
Other Useful Notes:
You can even send the Letter to President Bush (if you do not hesitate) along with two Senators and one Representative in the U.S. Congress!
We initiate and implement this campaign to all Vietnamese Catholics in America first, and then will expand this campaign later to Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, and the entire Europe, so please kindly wait in a moment!
Again, thank you for your action and if you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
Paul Anh, Coordinator
VNUSA Call to Action
VNUSACalltoAction@gmail.com
for VietCatholic Network
A. Sample Letter to the Senators in the U.S. Senate
Date: ____________________
The Honorable ____________
_______ Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Re: Request for the Return of Confiscated Church Properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church
Dear Senator ____________:
I write to urge you to put pressure on the Communist government of Vietnam and ask them to return immediately all confiscated Church properties as well as release prisoners of conscience.
It is my view that since becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and an unofficial observer of the United Nations, the Communist government of Vietnam has relentlessly abuse its human rights' record, and recently implemented numerous inhumane measures to restrict the freedom of worship and religious rights of its citizens everywhere, especially at Thai Ha parish, and remote villages such as Son La and other provinces.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church had extensive landholdings and properties, but the national, provincial, or municipal governments during the period of collectivization confiscated most of these. Allegations that Vietnamese authorities have destroyed churches, either to use property for some other purposes or to make worship more difficult, continue this day.
As of right now, the Vietnamese Catholic Church does need the following properties returned immediately:
(1) The former Apostolic Delegate’s Office located at 42 Pho Nha Chung Street, Hanoi;
(2) The 47-acre Land that belongs to La Vang Pilgrimage Center which is now under the control of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai municipal provinces; and
(3) The former Pius X Grand Seminary (or Pius X Pontifical Academy) in Dalat province.
In its Constitution of 15 April 1992, Chapter 5, concerning the Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen, specifically in Article 70, the Constitution mandates that:
“The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law. The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law... ”
Directive No. 379/TTg stresses: “Places of worship borrowed by the authorities must be returned to the churches or their owners when their use is no longer justified. If the use of the land is not for the right purposes, then it must be returned to the churches. If the places of worship are being occupied by people, it is municipal government’s task in asking these habitants to leave the properties within specific time.”
Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP emphasizes: “Church properties must be kept under the management of the state, and the state should not let these places of worships be transgressed.”
Ordinance No. 21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 of June 18, 2004 regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, Article 26 elaborates that: “The legal property of places of religious belief and of religious organizations is protected by law; any violation of this right is forbidden.”
Ironically, despite these said regulations issued by the Vietnamese government itself, and persistent request of the Bishops’ Council of the Vietnamese Catholic Church asking the Vietnamese authorities to return all confiscated Church properties, more specifically the above-mentioned properties, none of this has yet happened.
In recent days, thousands of Vietnamese Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Hanoi have conducted several peaceful light-candle sessions, and prayer vigils almost everyday in front of the former Apostolic Delegate’s Office, and the same with other Vietnamese faithful throughout the country with a hope that the Vietnamese government will soon honor their legitimate requests.
The above-mentioned properties are very much needed for the Vietnamese Catholic Church today and in the long run in her mission to evangelize, educate, and train all the Catholic faithful to become useful and productive citizens, to actively contribute to the overall development and protection of Vietnamese society as a whole.
Thus, in solidarity with those Vietnamese faithful, and as your active constituent, I urge you to work with your colleagues to either put Vietnam back in the CPC (Countries of Particular Concerned) list or ask the Vietnamese Government to immediately return the above-mentioned confiscated Church properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.
The Catholic faithful in Vietnam are very courageous and determined in their legitimate requests for the above-mentioned properties to be returned immediately to the Vietnamese Catholic Church by holding several peaceful prayer sessions throughout the day and this will indefinitely continue despite any threats or dangers imposed by local and municipal police forces.
As your constituent, I am worried that the Communist police forces may arrest, torture and execute these innocent and honorable Vietnamese Catholic faithful without mercy and justice, so I urge you and your colleagues to look into this matter as soon as possible, because this is the only way we can ensure freedom and democracy is in effect and working as our forefathers expect and entrust this mission to each and everyone of us.
Please kindly keep me updated on your actions via written correspondence.
Sincerely yours,
Your Full Name: _____________
Address: ___________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: _____________________
B. Sample Letter to Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
Date: ___________________
The Honorable ____________
______ Cannon House Office Building
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Re: Request for the Return of Confiscated Church Properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church
Dear Representative ____________:
I write to urge you to put pressure on the Communist government of Vietnam and ask them to return immediately all confiscated Church properties as well as release prisoners of conscience.
It is my view that since becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and an unofficial observer of the United Nations, the Communist government of Vietnam has relentlessly abuse its human rights' record, and recently implemented numerous inhumane measures to restrict the freedom of worship and religious rights of its citizens everywhere, especially at Thai Ha parish, and remote villages such as Son La and other provinces.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church had extensive landholdings and properties, but the national, provincial, or municipal governments during the period of collectivization confiscated most of these. Allegations that Vietnamese authorities have destroyed churches, either to use property for some other purposes or to make worship more difficult, continue this day.
As of right now, the Vietnamese Catholic Church does need the following properties returned immediately:
(1) The former Apostolic Delegate’s Office located at 42 Pho Nha Chung Street, Hanoi;
(2) The 47-acre Land that belongs to La Vang Pilgrimage Center which is now under the control of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai municipal provinces; and
(3) The former Pius X Grand Seminary (or Pius X Pontifical Academy) in Dalat province.
In its Constitution of 15 April 1992, Chapter 5, concerning the Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen, specifically in Article 70, the Constitution mandates that:
“The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law. The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law... ”
Directive No. 379/TTg stresses: “Places of worship borrowed by the authorities must be returned to the churches or their owners when their use is no longer justified. If the use of the land is not for the right purposes, then it must be returned to the churches. If the places of worship are being occupied by people, it is municipal government’s task in asking these habitants to leave the properties within specific time.”
Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP emphasizes: “Church properties must be kept under the management of the state, and the state should not let these places of worships be transgressed.”
Ordinance No. 21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 of June 18, 2004 regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, Article 26 elaborates that: “The legal property of places of religious belief and of religious organizations is protected by law; any violation of this right is forbidden.”
Ironically, despite these said regulations issued by the Vietnamese government itself, and persistent request of the Bishops’ Council of the Vietnamese Catholic Church asking the Vietnamese authorities to return all confiscated Church properties, more specifically the above-mentioned properties, none of this has yet happened.
In recent days, thousands of Vietnamese Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Hanoi have conducted several peaceful light-candle sessions, and prayer vigils almost everyday in front of the former Apostolic Delegate’s Office, and the same with other Vietnamese faithful throughout the country with a hope that the Vietnamese government will soon honor their legitimate requests.
The above-mentioned properties are very much needed for the Vietnamese Catholic Church today and in the long run in her mission to evangelize, educate, and train all the Catholic faithful to become useful and productive citizens, to actively contribute to the overall development and protection of Vietnamese society as a whole.
Thus, in solidarity with those Vietnamese faithful, and as your active constituent, I urge you to work with your colleagues to either put Vietnam back in the CPC (Countries of Particular Concerned) list or ask the Vietnamese Government to immediately return the above-mentioned confiscated Church properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.
The Catholic faithful in Vietnam are very courageous and determined in their legitimate requests for the above-mentioned properties to be returned immediately to the Vietnamese Catholic Church by holding several peaceful prayer sessions throughout the day and this will indefinitely continue despite any threats or dangers imposed by local and municipal police forces.
As your constituent, I am worried that the Communist police forces may arrest, torture and execute these innocent and honorable Vietnamese Catholic faithful without mercy and justice, so I urge you and your colleagues to look into this matter as soon as possible, because this is the only way we can ensure freedom and democracy is in effect and working as our forefathers expect and entrust this mission to each and everyone of us.
Please kindly keep me updated on your actions via written correspondence.
Sincerely yours,
Your Full Name: _____________
Address: ___________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: _____________________
C. Sample Letter to President GEORGE W. BUSH - President of the United States of America
Date: __________________
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Re: Request for the Return of Confiscated Church Properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church
Dear President Bush:
I write to urge you to put pressure on the Communist government of Vietnam and ask them to return immediately all confiscated Church properties as well as release prisoners of conscience.
In your role as the head of the world’s largest nation, I am also humbly asking you to urge our allies to do the same.
It is my view that since becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and an unofficial observer of the United Nations, the Communist government of Vietnam has relentlessly abuse its human rights' record, and recently implemented numerous inhumane measures to restrict the freedom of worship and religious rights of its citizens everywhere, especially at Thai Ha parish, and remote villages such as Son La and other provinces.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church had extensive landholdings and properties, but the national, provincial, or municipal governments during the period of collectivization confiscated most of these. Allegations that Vietnamese authorities have destroyed churches, either to use property for some other purposes or to make worship more difficult, continue this day.
As of right now, the Vietnamese Catholic Church does need the following properties returned immediately:
(1) The former Apostolic Delegate’s Office located at 42 Pho Nha Chung Street, Hanoi;
(2) The 47-acre Land that belongs to La Vang Pilgrimage Center which is now under the control of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai municipal provinces; and
(3) The former Pius X Grand Seminary (or Pius X Pontifical Academy) in Dalat province.
In its Constitution of 15 April 1992, Chapter 5, concerning the Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen, specifically in Article 70, the Constitution mandates that:
“The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law. The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law... ”
Directive No. 379/TTg stresses: “Places of worship borrowed by the authorities must be returned to the churches or their owners when their use is no longer justified. If the use of the land is not for the right purposes, then it must be returned to the churches. If the places of worship are being occupied by people, it is municipal government’s task in asking these habitants to leave the properties within specific time.”
Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP emphasizes: “Church properties must be kept under the management of the state, and the state should not let these places of worships be transgressed.”
Ordinance No. 21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 of June 18, 2004 regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, Article 26 elaborates that: “The legal property of places of religious belief and of religious organizations is protected by law; any violation of this right is forbidden.”
Ironically, despite these said regulations issued by the Vietnamese government itself, and persistent request of the Bishops’ Council of the Vietnamese Catholic Church asking the Vietnamese authorities to return all confiscated Church properties, more specifically the above-mentioned properties, none of this has yet happened.
In recent days, thousands of Vietnamese Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Hanoi have conducted several peaceful light-candle sessions, and prayer vigils almost everyday in front of the former Apostolic Delegate’s Office, and the same with other Vietnamese faithful throughout the country with a hope that the Vietnamese government will soon honor their legitimate requests.
The above-mentioned properties are very much needed for the Vietnamese Catholic Church today and in the long run in her mission to evangelize, educate, and train all the Catholic faithful to become useful and productive citizens, to actively contribute to the overall development and protection of Vietnamese society as a whole.
Thus, in solidarity with those Vietnamese faithful, and as your active constituent, I urge you to work with your colleagues to either put Vietnam back in the CPC (Countries of Particular Concerned) list or ask the Vietnamese Government to immediately return the above-mentioned confiscated Church properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.
The Catholic faithful in Vietnam are very courageous and determined in their legitimate requests for the above-mentioned properties to be returned immediately to the Vietnamese Catholic Church by holding several peaceful prayer sessions throughout the day and this will indefinitely continue despite any threats or dangers imposed by local and municipal police forces.
As your citizen, I am worried that the Communist police forces may arrest, torture and execute these innocent and honorable Vietnamese Catholic faithful without mercy and justice, so I urge you to look into this matter as soon as possible, because this is the only way we can ensure freedom and democracy is in effect and working as our forefathers expect and entrust this mission to each and everyone of us.
Please kindly keep me updated on your actions via written correspondence.
Sincerely yours,
Your Full Name: _____________
Address: ___________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: _____________________
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In a united spirit and solidarity with our fellow Catholics in Hanoi, and with Our Mother Church in Vietnam, it is time for us to come together as one big Vietnamese-American Catholic community in the United States to take bolder and specific actions to lend our unwavering and faithful support to all our brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Hanoi.
In addition to our daily prayers, we must also contact our U.S. Senators and Representatives directly asking them to put more pressure on the current Communist government of Vietnam to abide by their own laws and Constitutions which are imposed on every citizen of this country
If the Catholic faithful in Hanoi do know how to unite in one by continuously conducting their own prayer vigils in front of the former Apostolic Nuncio’s Office, our Vietnamese Catholic faithful in America must take full advantage of our democracy and freedom to take part in this peaceful campaign right here in America, in addition to our daily communion prayers, to support our fellow faithful.
We are called to take actions together and in full force by writing, emailing, and faxing our letter to all U.S. Representatives and Senators where we live, asking them to put more pressure on the current Communist government of Vietnam, as well as to put Vietnam back in the Countries of Particular Concerned or CPC list because they have violated against the basic rights of every human being, tortured, arrested, and terrorized our Catholic faithful in Hanoi in their peaceful fight to get back the former Apostolic Nuncio’s Office.
Thus, to do this more effectively and productively, we would like to suggest the following ways:
* Step 1:
a. You can print the English-version of the Sample Letter below, and then mail it to your Senators and Representatives in your state.
b.You can also copy this Sample Letter, save in somewhere on your computer and then send it via email to your Senators and Representatives in your state.
To get the fullname, complete mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses of your Senators and Representatives, please visit the following websites:
c. Senators in the U.S. Senate, please visit http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
This website lists all the details of 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate, 110th session.
Or you can also visit the U.S. Senate website directly at: http://www.senate.gov
d. Congressmen/women in the U.S. House of Representatives at 50 states, please visit one of the following websites for more details at: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ or www.house.gov
From there, you can choose your own state from the List
Please kindly note that in order to contact your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, you must know your 5-digit Zip Code along with additional 4-digit number that follows.
For example: the 5-digit Zip Code and additional 4-digit number that follows of South Dakota state are: 57401-6052
To know these numbers, you can look at any letter you have received either from Electric Company, or from the Bank, etc. because it will list your specific 5-digit Zip Code and additional 4-digit that follows right after the Zip Code. Or you can check this at your local Post Office or visit their website at www.ups.com
Unlike U.S. Senate which only has 100 Senators, the U.S. House of Representatives have more than 300 Representatives, and each was divided in according to your specific residential area in your state. Normally, you will have 2 Senators and only 1 Representative in the U.S. Congress.
If you decide to use the webmail form directly from the website of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives to send the attached Sample Letter, in Issue Area section, please choose Foreign Policy.
* Step 2:
After sending the attached Sample Letter to your Senators and Representative in the U.S. Congress in your state, please be so kind to drop us a note via email with the following details:
VNUSACalltoAction@gmail.com
(a) Name of the two Senators and Representative in the U.S. Congress that you just send the Letter to;
(b) The date that you send; and
(c) Your fullname.
With this provided information, we can compile a List, and do own own and face-to-face followup with these elected officials so that together we can push for the quick and immediate return of confiscated Church properties.
Thank you very much for your kind efforts and actions, and May God Bless our work so that Our Mother Church in Vietnam will soon enjoy a true freedom and democracy!
Other Useful Notes:
You can even send the Letter to President Bush (if you do not hesitate) along with two Senators and one Representative in the U.S. Congress!
We initiate and implement this campaign to all Vietnamese Catholics in America first, and then will expand this campaign later to Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, and the entire Europe, so please kindly wait in a moment!
Again, thank you for your action and if you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
Paul Anh, Coordinator
VNUSA Call to Action
VNUSACalltoAction@gmail.com
for VietCatholic Network
A. Sample Letter to the Senators in the U.S. Senate
Date: ____________________
The Honorable ____________
_______ Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Re: Request for the Return of Confiscated Church Properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church
Dear Senator ____________:
I write to urge you to put pressure on the Communist government of Vietnam and ask them to return immediately all confiscated Church properties as well as release prisoners of conscience.
It is my view that since becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and an unofficial observer of the United Nations, the Communist government of Vietnam has relentlessly abuse its human rights' record, and recently implemented numerous inhumane measures to restrict the freedom of worship and religious rights of its citizens everywhere, especially at Thai Ha parish, and remote villages such as Son La and other provinces.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church had extensive landholdings and properties, but the national, provincial, or municipal governments during the period of collectivization confiscated most of these. Allegations that Vietnamese authorities have destroyed churches, either to use property for some other purposes or to make worship more difficult, continue this day.
As of right now, the Vietnamese Catholic Church does need the following properties returned immediately:
(1) The former Apostolic Delegate’s Office located at 42 Pho Nha Chung Street, Hanoi;
(2) The 47-acre Land that belongs to La Vang Pilgrimage Center which is now under the control of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai municipal provinces; and
(3) The former Pius X Grand Seminary (or Pius X Pontifical Academy) in Dalat province.
In its Constitution of 15 April 1992, Chapter 5, concerning the Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen, specifically in Article 70, the Constitution mandates that:
“The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law. The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law... ”
Directive No. 379/TTg stresses: “Places of worship borrowed by the authorities must be returned to the churches or their owners when their use is no longer justified. If the use of the land is not for the right purposes, then it must be returned to the churches. If the places of worship are being occupied by people, it is municipal government’s task in asking these habitants to leave the properties within specific time.”
Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP emphasizes: “Church properties must be kept under the management of the state, and the state should not let these places of worships be transgressed.”
Ordinance No. 21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 of June 18, 2004 regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, Article 26 elaborates that: “The legal property of places of religious belief and of religious organizations is protected by law; any violation of this right is forbidden.”
Ironically, despite these said regulations issued by the Vietnamese government itself, and persistent request of the Bishops’ Council of the Vietnamese Catholic Church asking the Vietnamese authorities to return all confiscated Church properties, more specifically the above-mentioned properties, none of this has yet happened.
In recent days, thousands of Vietnamese Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Hanoi have conducted several peaceful light-candle sessions, and prayer vigils almost everyday in front of the former Apostolic Delegate’s Office, and the same with other Vietnamese faithful throughout the country with a hope that the Vietnamese government will soon honor their legitimate requests.
The above-mentioned properties are very much needed for the Vietnamese Catholic Church today and in the long run in her mission to evangelize, educate, and train all the Catholic faithful to become useful and productive citizens, to actively contribute to the overall development and protection of Vietnamese society as a whole.
Thus, in solidarity with those Vietnamese faithful, and as your active constituent, I urge you to work with your colleagues to either put Vietnam back in the CPC (Countries of Particular Concerned) list or ask the Vietnamese Government to immediately return the above-mentioned confiscated Church properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.
The Catholic faithful in Vietnam are very courageous and determined in their legitimate requests for the above-mentioned properties to be returned immediately to the Vietnamese Catholic Church by holding several peaceful prayer sessions throughout the day and this will indefinitely continue despite any threats or dangers imposed by local and municipal police forces.
As your constituent, I am worried that the Communist police forces may arrest, torture and execute these innocent and honorable Vietnamese Catholic faithful without mercy and justice, so I urge you and your colleagues to look into this matter as soon as possible, because this is the only way we can ensure freedom and democracy is in effect and working as our forefathers expect and entrust this mission to each and everyone of us.
Please kindly keep me updated on your actions via written correspondence.
Sincerely yours,
Your Full Name: _____________
Address: ___________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: _____________________
B. Sample Letter to Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
Date: ___________________
The Honorable ____________
______ Cannon House Office Building
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Re: Request for the Return of Confiscated Church Properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church
Dear Representative ____________:
I write to urge you to put pressure on the Communist government of Vietnam and ask them to return immediately all confiscated Church properties as well as release prisoners of conscience.
It is my view that since becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and an unofficial observer of the United Nations, the Communist government of Vietnam has relentlessly abuse its human rights' record, and recently implemented numerous inhumane measures to restrict the freedom of worship and religious rights of its citizens everywhere, especially at Thai Ha parish, and remote villages such as Son La and other provinces.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church had extensive landholdings and properties, but the national, provincial, or municipal governments during the period of collectivization confiscated most of these. Allegations that Vietnamese authorities have destroyed churches, either to use property for some other purposes or to make worship more difficult, continue this day.
As of right now, the Vietnamese Catholic Church does need the following properties returned immediately:
(1) The former Apostolic Delegate’s Office located at 42 Pho Nha Chung Street, Hanoi;
(2) The 47-acre Land that belongs to La Vang Pilgrimage Center which is now under the control of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai municipal provinces; and
(3) The former Pius X Grand Seminary (or Pius X Pontifical Academy) in Dalat province.
In its Constitution of 15 April 1992, Chapter 5, concerning the Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen, specifically in Article 70, the Constitution mandates that:
“The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law. The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law... ”
Directive No. 379/TTg stresses: “Places of worship borrowed by the authorities must be returned to the churches or their owners when their use is no longer justified. If the use of the land is not for the right purposes, then it must be returned to the churches. If the places of worship are being occupied by people, it is municipal government’s task in asking these habitants to leave the properties within specific time.”
Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP emphasizes: “Church properties must be kept under the management of the state, and the state should not let these places of worships be transgressed.”
Ordinance No. 21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 of June 18, 2004 regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, Article 26 elaborates that: “The legal property of places of religious belief and of religious organizations is protected by law; any violation of this right is forbidden.”
Ironically, despite these said regulations issued by the Vietnamese government itself, and persistent request of the Bishops’ Council of the Vietnamese Catholic Church asking the Vietnamese authorities to return all confiscated Church properties, more specifically the above-mentioned properties, none of this has yet happened.
In recent days, thousands of Vietnamese Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Hanoi have conducted several peaceful light-candle sessions, and prayer vigils almost everyday in front of the former Apostolic Delegate’s Office, and the same with other Vietnamese faithful throughout the country with a hope that the Vietnamese government will soon honor their legitimate requests.
The above-mentioned properties are very much needed for the Vietnamese Catholic Church today and in the long run in her mission to evangelize, educate, and train all the Catholic faithful to become useful and productive citizens, to actively contribute to the overall development and protection of Vietnamese society as a whole.
Thus, in solidarity with those Vietnamese faithful, and as your active constituent, I urge you to work with your colleagues to either put Vietnam back in the CPC (Countries of Particular Concerned) list or ask the Vietnamese Government to immediately return the above-mentioned confiscated Church properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.
The Catholic faithful in Vietnam are very courageous and determined in their legitimate requests for the above-mentioned properties to be returned immediately to the Vietnamese Catholic Church by holding several peaceful prayer sessions throughout the day and this will indefinitely continue despite any threats or dangers imposed by local and municipal police forces.
As your constituent, I am worried that the Communist police forces may arrest, torture and execute these innocent and honorable Vietnamese Catholic faithful without mercy and justice, so I urge you and your colleagues to look into this matter as soon as possible, because this is the only way we can ensure freedom and democracy is in effect and working as our forefathers expect and entrust this mission to each and everyone of us.
Please kindly keep me updated on your actions via written correspondence.
Sincerely yours,
Your Full Name: _____________
Address: ___________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: _____________________
C. Sample Letter to President GEORGE W. BUSH - President of the United States of America
Date: __________________
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Re: Request for the Return of Confiscated Church Properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church
Dear President Bush:
I write to urge you to put pressure on the Communist government of Vietnam and ask them to return immediately all confiscated Church properties as well as release prisoners of conscience.
In your role as the head of the world’s largest nation, I am also humbly asking you to urge our allies to do the same.
It is my view that since becoming a member of the World Trade Organization and an unofficial observer of the United Nations, the Communist government of Vietnam has relentlessly abuse its human rights' record, and recently implemented numerous inhumane measures to restrict the freedom of worship and religious rights of its citizens everywhere, especially at Thai Ha parish, and remote villages such as Son La and other provinces.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church had extensive landholdings and properties, but the national, provincial, or municipal governments during the period of collectivization confiscated most of these. Allegations that Vietnamese authorities have destroyed churches, either to use property for some other purposes or to make worship more difficult, continue this day.
As of right now, the Vietnamese Catholic Church does need the following properties returned immediately:
(1) The former Apostolic Delegate’s Office located at 42 Pho Nha Chung Street, Hanoi;
(2) The 47-acre Land that belongs to La Vang Pilgrimage Center which is now under the control of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai municipal provinces; and
(3) The former Pius X Grand Seminary (or Pius X Pontifical Academy) in Dalat province.
In its Constitution of 15 April 1992, Chapter 5, concerning the Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizen, specifically in Article 70, the Constitution mandates that:
“The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law. The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law... ”
Directive No. 379/TTg stresses: “Places of worship borrowed by the authorities must be returned to the churches or their owners when their use is no longer justified. If the use of the land is not for the right purposes, then it must be returned to the churches. If the places of worship are being occupied by people, it is municipal government’s task in asking these habitants to leave the properties within specific time.”
Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP emphasizes: “Church properties must be kept under the management of the state, and the state should not let these places of worships be transgressed.”
Ordinance No. 21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 of June 18, 2004 regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, Article 26 elaborates that: “The legal property of places of religious belief and of religious organizations is protected by law; any violation of this right is forbidden.”
Ironically, despite these said regulations issued by the Vietnamese government itself, and persistent request of the Bishops’ Council of the Vietnamese Catholic Church asking the Vietnamese authorities to return all confiscated Church properties, more specifically the above-mentioned properties, none of this has yet happened.
In recent days, thousands of Vietnamese Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Hanoi have conducted several peaceful light-candle sessions, and prayer vigils almost everyday in front of the former Apostolic Delegate’s Office, and the same with other Vietnamese faithful throughout the country with a hope that the Vietnamese government will soon honor their legitimate requests.
The above-mentioned properties are very much needed for the Vietnamese Catholic Church today and in the long run in her mission to evangelize, educate, and train all the Catholic faithful to become useful and productive citizens, to actively contribute to the overall development and protection of Vietnamese society as a whole.
Thus, in solidarity with those Vietnamese faithful, and as your active constituent, I urge you to work with your colleagues to either put Vietnam back in the CPC (Countries of Particular Concerned) list or ask the Vietnamese Government to immediately return the above-mentioned confiscated Church properties to the Vietnamese Catholic Church.
The Catholic faithful in Vietnam are very courageous and determined in their legitimate requests for the above-mentioned properties to be returned immediately to the Vietnamese Catholic Church by holding several peaceful prayer sessions throughout the day and this will indefinitely continue despite any threats or dangers imposed by local and municipal police forces.
As your citizen, I am worried that the Communist police forces may arrest, torture and execute these innocent and honorable Vietnamese Catholic faithful without mercy and justice, so I urge you to look into this matter as soon as possible, because this is the only way we can ensure freedom and democracy is in effect and working as our forefathers expect and entrust this mission to each and everyone of us.
Please kindly keep me updated on your actions via written correspondence.
Sincerely yours,
Your Full Name: _____________
Address: ___________________
Phone: _____________________
Email: _____________________