Catholics in three northwestern Vietnamese provinces have defied a government ban on religious activities by gathering at people’s homes to pray. Joseph Nguyen Van Tien, who lives in Dien Bien province’s Muong Ang district, said that he started inviting local Catholics to pray at his home three months ago. “I am very happy that 120 local Catholics now gather regularly at my home on Sundays to pray,” he said. “We fear nothing because we gather to pray for ourselves to live better lives and for our relatives on their death anniversaries,” said Tien. “We do not cause public disorder.” Pastoral activities for Catholics in Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces, where religious activities are banned, started in 2007, says Father Pierre Nguyen Thanh Binh from Sa Pa church in Lai Chau. At that time, small Catholic communities gathered at homes for prayers. There are now more than 4,000 Catholics attending such meetings. Many Catholics say they want the local government to recognize their religious activities and allow them to build churches.
Catholics in Vietnam Defy Government
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
Regardless of what one thinks of the advisability of a pope known for his off-the-cuff remarks partaking in long interviews, the fact remains that Pope Francis is more willing than both candidates to sit down one-on-one in front of a camera.
Largely missing during October synod meetings, over 200 parish priests gather outside Rome for meetings
Eliminating a seminary diaconate is not only possible but necessary for envisioning a mature and fully formed diaconate for the future.
During his visit to Venice, Pope Francis encouraged young people to embrace their worth, urging care for one another's vulnerabilities and emphasizing the importance of remaining connected to God to bear fruits of justice, peace, and solidarity.