He was able to celebrate
Easter Mass, but was detained and brought to the police station, on
charges of of having baptized people.
It is yet another violation of religious freedom by the authorities of Lang Son, K'Bang County (central Vietnam), in the area of the Montagnards and it happened to Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh, who was previously prevented from celebrating mass for Christmas in the same village.
In view of Easter, the bishop had sent numerous petitions
to the authorities at all levels, asking for permission to celebrate
Mass in a village where it has never been possible to celebrate the
Eucharist. Permission was granted.
But when Msgr. Duc Oanh arrived, along with a
priest, he found a hostile atmosphere because police and women of the
Communist League women outnumbered the faithful, controlling and mocking
the Catholics and the bishop.
A long queue of Catholics requested permission to confess.
The
celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation took place to the sound
of laughter and jokes at the gestures of the faithful.
And after the Mass, the bishop and the priest were brought to the police station and subjected to interrogation for hours.
The
officials accused the bishop of violating the permit that "only allowed
the celebration of Easter Mass, as he had also" baptised persons ","
deliberately exceeding what was allowed”.
The bishop protested, denying that he had "baptized
people," he explained that he had only helped the faithful to reconcile
themselves with God.
"Before eating - he said - you wash your hands. Likewise, before attending the Mass, we wash ourselves, reconciling ourselves with God."
The concern of the communist authorities and their
charges are explained by the fact that the diocese is witnessing a large
number of conversions, with 50 thousand baptisms over the past two
years.