The Bishop of Vinh Long has protested once again for the demolition of the convent of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres to make way for a public square.In a letter dated 28 October addressed to priests, religious and faithful, Mgr. Thomas Nguyen Van Tan complains, in particular, the start of the demolition – of which was informed by the newspapers - took place despite the diocese and the congregation having lodged protests against the initiative.
The prelate writes that what is happening highlights the growing injustices that the diocese suffers from the "disastrous day" of September 7, 1977, when local authorities used force to besiege and attack the cathedral, the major seminary and the College of the Holy Cross.
All those in charge of the institutions were arrested, including the same Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan.
"Few - continues the bishop - were imprisoned, others were moved to different places," with the false charge of "educating young people to be against the revolution and to oppose the liberation of the country."
A demagogical policy followed, the Vietnamese government began to guarantee the religious leaders that they would allow them the right to use the land as asked. "But how can they do us any favour, while we are still considered as 'criminals'?".
"It 'so sad to see a place of worship to God, religious education and charitable services be turned into a place of entertainment."
The approach of the month of All Souls, is further cause for bitterness for the bishop, particularly in seeing the cemetery of the Catholic Diocese illegally seized and destroyed to make it a public park.
May the month of All Souls, concludes the message, be an occasion for the faithful to pray more intensely for the dead and for the end of the injustices which the diocese is subjected to.
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