Trung Tin

Bishop Paul Mary Cao Dinh Thuyen saddened by the violence against Catholics beaten and injured by police and thugs. The visit by the Vietnamese ambassador to Italy with Msgr. Balestrero, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, presented as Vatican support for policy of Hanoi government.

The worldwide economic crisis is undermining Vietnam’s economic model. The effects of economic development based on violating individual liberties and exploiting the population come to the fore.

The faithful face a lot of difficulties in places like Son La where the authorities have decreed that “there is no need for religion” and enforced a ban on Mass for years. Now the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom has come to town.

A significant encounter with Cardinal Pham Minh Man and auxiliary bishop Van Kham, to whom the young people posed questions about the faith, but also about the issues of ordinary life and the lives of the faithful in today's Vietnam.

The appeals court has reconfirmed the sentence against the 8 who were calling for the return of land belonging to the parish. This morning, 5,000 Catholics marched for 12 kilometers to the site of the trial, and were stopped by 1,000 police officers in riot gear with guard dogs. The state television channel accuses the Redemptorists, and recommends that they be arrested. In Saigon, 5,000 Catholics and non-Catholics - together with local political authorities - took part in a prayer vigil. The eight defendants are "like Jesus."