Having issued a statement reflecting their position on the land dispute-turned-conflict between the state and archdiocese of Hanoi, bishops went to meet with Vietnam Prime Minister.
A delegation of bishops met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Wednesday Oct. 1 to discuss issues relating to growing tensions in Church-state relation. Bishop Nguyen Van Nhon of Dalat, president of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops; Cardinal Pham Minh Man of Saigon; and Archbishop Nguyen Nhu The of Hue archdiocese had arrived at the meeting place with the anticipation that the prime minister would reiterate what he had promised Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet in February of this year, in which the former nunciature of Hanoi would be returned to Hanoi archdiocese, its legal owner. What they were about to hear, however, was a lecture aimed at Hanoi archbishop and a subtle message to the Conference of Bishops from the notorious flip-flopping prime minister.
State television broadcast a long detailed report on Wednesday evening. In his opening statement, the prime minister asserted that the government's stance on the issue would remain the same as that of 54 years ago, that is only the collective ownership of land is recognized. He also gave his support to Hanoi city stating that "the handling of the local government at Thai Ha parish and the nunciature was justified.” He went on to criticize Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi quite harshly accusing the prelate of "having actions and words that had damaged his own reputation among the Vietnamese Catholic Community and the society as a whole, thus affecting the good relation between the archdiocese and Hanoi local government, and to the extent of between the Church and the state." The report stated that the prime minister wanted the prelate “to have a serious review of his behavior in order to make practical corrections to overcome his shortcomings.” He also asked the Conference of Bishops, for "the common good of all, to support and assist the prelate more as he needed to abide the state law."
Dung's statement came as a shock to, or to be more specific, a slap in the face of the bishops and the Catholic Church as a whole since it blatantly contradicted with what he had solemnly promised to Hanoi diocese, and to the Vatican early this year.
Ironically, what had happened at the Thai Ha and at the nunciature during the recent conflicts were still raw in people's mind as a classic example of what a persecution look likes. Events were also recorded by camera and witnessed by the thousands parishioners and others. Yet the prime minister of the government which calls itself "servant of the people" still had the nerve to deny it, and shamelessly put the blame on the honest archbishop whose statement was altered and used as a substance for a widespread propaganda in a negative way.
It should be noted that in the statement released on Sept 25, the Vietnamese Conference of Bishops has concluded that Archbishop Joseph Ngo had done nothing wrong in the said conflict. Bishops have also acknowledged that outdated and inconsistent policy in land law combined with national calamities of bribery and corruption had led to the injustice done on the Hanoi Catholics and many others throughout the country; and the media while serving for the interest of their owner, the state, have purposely distorted the story in order to victimize the victims once again.
State television did not show reactions of bishops. However, “they frankly rejected every accusation against Hanoi archbishop,” said Fr. Joseph Nguyen from Hanoi.
“The bishops also denounced the on-going defamation against the prelate and other Catholic leaders, and the attacks at Thai Ha, and Mac Thuong parishes, as well as at Hanoi archbishop’s residence,” he added.
Also, “the bishops took this opportunity to reiterated their views in which they blamed the tensions for the murky, outdated land law which trembles the right to own private property as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the dishonesty of state media which have been proven to be effective in spreading doubts and mistrust instead of bridging the nation with mutual understanding and unification; and the tendency of the government to use violence to depress people who cry out for justice thus creating more social injustice,” Fr. Joseph Nguyen reported.
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| PM Nguyen Tan Dung and bishops |
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| Meeting between PM and bishops |
State television broadcast a long detailed report on Wednesday evening. In his opening statement, the prime minister asserted that the government's stance on the issue would remain the same as that of 54 years ago, that is only the collective ownership of land is recognized. He also gave his support to Hanoi city stating that "the handling of the local government at Thai Ha parish and the nunciature was justified.” He went on to criticize Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi quite harshly accusing the prelate of "having actions and words that had damaged his own reputation among the Vietnamese Catholic Community and the society as a whole, thus affecting the good relation between the archdiocese and Hanoi local government, and to the extent of between the Church and the state." The report stated that the prime minister wanted the prelate “to have a serious review of his behavior in order to make practical corrections to overcome his shortcomings.” He also asked the Conference of Bishops, for "the common good of all, to support and assist the prelate more as he needed to abide the state law."
Dung's statement came as a shock to, or to be more specific, a slap in the face of the bishops and the Catholic Church as a whole since it blatantly contradicted with what he had solemnly promised to Hanoi diocese, and to the Vatican early this year.
Ironically, what had happened at the Thai Ha and at the nunciature during the recent conflicts were still raw in people's mind as a classic example of what a persecution look likes. Events were also recorded by camera and witnessed by the thousands parishioners and others. Yet the prime minister of the government which calls itself "servant of the people" still had the nerve to deny it, and shamelessly put the blame on the honest archbishop whose statement was altered and used as a substance for a widespread propaganda in a negative way.
It should be noted that in the statement released on Sept 25, the Vietnamese Conference of Bishops has concluded that Archbishop Joseph Ngo had done nothing wrong in the said conflict. Bishops have also acknowledged that outdated and inconsistent policy in land law combined with national calamities of bribery and corruption had led to the injustice done on the Hanoi Catholics and many others throughout the country; and the media while serving for the interest of their owner, the state, have purposely distorted the story in order to victimize the victims once again.
State television did not show reactions of bishops. However, “they frankly rejected every accusation against Hanoi archbishop,” said Fr. Joseph Nguyen from Hanoi.
“The bishops also denounced the on-going defamation against the prelate and other Catholic leaders, and the attacks at Thai Ha, and Mac Thuong parishes, as well as at Hanoi archbishop’s residence,” he added.
Also, “the bishops took this opportunity to reiterated their views in which they blamed the tensions for the murky, outdated land law which trembles the right to own private property as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the dishonesty of state media which have been proven to be effective in spreading doubts and mistrust instead of bridging the nation with mutual understanding and unification; and the tendency of the government to use violence to depress people who cry out for justice thus creating more social injustice,” Fr. Joseph Nguyen reported.