Bishop of
Kontum calls for patience and dialogue to stem attacks on religious freedom by Paul N. Hung – AsiaNews
06/03/2015 Msgr. Hoàng Duc Oanh stresses that for the faithful in Vietnam difficulties are a "constant daily". Among the unresolved issues permits related to places of worship and government approvals for pastoral activity. The prelate calls for the cancellation of procedures that are a source of "problems and red tape." Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - "In our life, difficulties are a constant daily, everywhere and at all times. There are difficulties that affect individuals, families and the community as a whole. [...] But when you face a number of problems, you need to show patience, become promoters of dialogue with the authorities. It is the only way to really solve most issues”, says Msgr. Michael Hoàng Duc Oanh, bishop of Kontum, in Knotum province, Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Recently, a district of the diocese has been the object of the attack of the local Communist authorities, who have threatened to tear down 22 chapels used for functions and prayers. Therefore, even amid constraints and restrictions on religious freedom, the prelate urges restraint and use dialogue to solve conflicts. The diocese of Kontum in
the Central Highlands of Vietnam, was erected in 1884 and now has about 250
thousand faithful out of a total of 1.2 million inhabitants, half of whom belong
to ethnic minorities. Responding to the call made by Pope Francis to strengthen
the process of New Evangelization, the prelate will appeal to the whole
community to "follow in the footsteps of Jesus." Then there are twenty churches "of a second type", still awaiting "final approval" from authorities and this has caused problems and tensions. Finally, hundreds of
temporary places "of the third type" (tents devoted to the cult) which have been
built in hundreds of villages that make up the diocese and are also awaiting
approval. As a small, albeit significant minority, the Christian community is particularly active in education, health and social affairs. Conversely, religious freedom has steadily eroded in recent years. Under Decree 92, more controls and restrictions have been imposed on religious practice, boosting the power of the Communist Party and the one-party state. The authorities have targeted religious leaders, including Buddhist and Catholic leaders, as well as entire communities. In 2013, media and government carried out a smear campaign and targeted attacks against the bishop and ordinary Catholics in the Diocese of Vinh. More generally, government repression tends to touch everyone who defends civil rights and the right to religious freedom.
Vietnam Human Rights Network |