Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Thousands of Catholics (in the photo) have gathered in prayer around the parish of Thai Ha, and prayers have been held in various parts of the diocese of Hanoi. This solidarity is the response of the faithful to the incomprehensible attack carried out on Saturday night in Thai Ha, when hundreds of party activists tried to destroy the chapel of St. Gerardo. Security forces were present, and a representative of the local people's committee also took part. The attack was unable to achieve its objective because of the arrival of hundreds of Catholics, and who responded to the call for help issued by ringing the church bells.

Today, the New Hanoi reports that the spokesman of foreign minister Le Dung has denied that public forces were involved in the aggression, maintaining that "no government forces attacked the area of the parish of Thai Ha." This is refuted by eyewitnesses, and also by photographs taken by parishioners, clearly showing the presence and involvement of police, security forces, and the military. "The spokesman's denial," adds Fr. Nguyen, "is disturbing to the people: now they think that the government is covering up retaliation by its officials against the Catholics of Thai Ha. The attack has created serious concern among Vietnamese all over the world, while the government demonstrates that it does not intend to carry out any investigation of the incident. It limits itself to denying its own involvement."

Following news of the attack - which symbolically took place while the feast of the Vietnamese martyrs was being celebrated - thousands of Catholics have come from the Cathedral of St. Joseph, from Ham Long, from Hang Bot, and even from the faraway parishes of Thach Bich, Canh Hoach, and Bai Xuyen.

A Catholic from Thach Bich speaks of "persecution," and explains that "for years, Redemptorist priests and their faithful have requested the restitution of their land illegally seized by the state. After fearing their legal case, the government now openly persecutes them."

Fr. Joseph Nguyen highlights the concurrence of the attack and the commemoration of the martyrs of Vietnam. "This attack reminds people that since its very first outset, the seed of faith in Vietnamese soil was mixed with the abundant blood of the martyrs from all walks of life, from the courageous missionary clergy as well as the local clergy and the Christian people of Vietnam. The Church in Vietnam today is not better or worse than in the past."

"The Catholic Church in Vietnam as a whole is now the subject of the Vietnamese government’s persecution,” says a student of Hanoi University. “And this attack is a challenge to the conscience of the world."