Nuns were invited to a meeting to discuss on the requisition of their home. But, the meeting turned to be a news conference to announce the government’s seizure of their monastery. In addition, their presence at the conference was distorted by state media as their contents with the government’s decision.
On early of December, sisters of St Paul of Chartres were filled with hope when they received a letter from the People's Committee of Vinh Long province politely inviting them to a meeting to discuss on the requisition of their home. For a long time, they had never seen such a polite letter from the local government. However, on arriving to the meeting on Dec. 12, they soon found out they were in fact being the victims of a cheap trick played by the government officials.
The nuns, being as honest and humble as usual, entered the conference room in goodwill and faith in their own government for doing the right thing, but what happened during that meeting was enough to change drastically their view on the government's credibility.
“The Congregation of St Paul was invited to exchange and discuss,” wrote Sr. Huynh Thi Bich Ngoc in a letter to various state organs, “but there were no exchange nor discuss at the meeting.”
“Mr. Nguyen Van Dau, Head of the People's Committee simply announced the decision to turn our monastery into a public square,” the provincial superior of the order added.
"Also, " she continued, “present at the meeting were the authoritative organs and news media personnel such as the editor in chief of Vinh Long Newsmagazine and the Radio and TV stations of province.” They were there to tape and video. Despite the fact that all the sisters present at the meeting stood up and strongly protested, state media told their audiences that the sisters were happy with the decision and their presence at the meeting was a strong evidence of their contents.
Facing this shameful injustice, Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan, has just written a letter to the government. Part of the letter read:
“I have been living in Vinh-Long since Sept 1, 1953. At that time, next to the old Cathedral there was a school, a convent and a chapel belonging to the sisters of St Paul Congregation. Now all have been reduced to a vacated piece of land.
I ask the government to reconsider the decision to demolish the convent and the chapel in order to build a public square on the property where the convent used to be. Let it be proven to all that this government is protective of all religions.
I am in total unity with the view of Congregation of St Paul.”
On early of December, sisters of St Paul of Chartres were filled with hope when they received a letter from the People's Committee of Vinh Long province politely inviting them to a meeting to discuss on the requisition of their home. For a long time, they had never seen such a polite letter from the local government. However, on arriving to the meeting on Dec. 12, they soon found out they were in fact being the victims of a cheap trick played by the government officials.
The nuns, being as honest and humble as usual, entered the conference room in goodwill and faith in their own government for doing the right thing, but what happened during that meeting was enough to change drastically their view on the government's credibility.
“The Congregation of St Paul was invited to exchange and discuss,” wrote Sr. Huynh Thi Bich Ngoc in a letter to various state organs, “but there were no exchange nor discuss at the meeting.”
“Mr. Nguyen Van Dau, Head of the People's Committee simply announced the decision to turn our monastery into a public square,” the provincial superior of the order added.
"Also, " she continued, “present at the meeting were the authoritative organs and news media personnel such as the editor in chief of Vinh Long Newsmagazine and the Radio and TV stations of province.” They were there to tape and video. Despite the fact that all the sisters present at the meeting stood up and strongly protested, state media told their audiences that the sisters were happy with the decision and their presence at the meeting was a strong evidence of their contents.
Facing this shameful injustice, Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan, has just written a letter to the government. Part of the letter read:
“I have been living in Vinh-Long since Sept 1, 1953. At that time, next to the old Cathedral there was a school, a convent and a chapel belonging to the sisters of St Paul Congregation. Now all have been reduced to a vacated piece of land.
I ask the government to reconsider the decision to demolish the convent and the chapel in order to build a public square on the property where the convent used to be. Let it be proven to all that this government is protective of all religions.
I am in total unity with the view of Congregation of St Paul.”