The archbishop of Hanoi resigns. Triumph of the regime
The archbishop of Hanoi resigns. Triumph of the regime
ICC Note: Speculation has it that the resignation is the tradeoff Catholics are paying for more dialogue in Vietnam
by J.B. An Dang – E. Nguyen
5/11/10 Vietnam (AsiaNews) – Local sources have informed AsiaNews that the archbishop of Hanoi, will resign in the coming days, after the installation of his coadjutor, on 7 May.
State reporters have confirmed that the resignation of the bishop will take place between 13 and 18 May at the latest. They have received orders from the State to portray the withdrawal of the Archbishop as a government victory in having forced the Vatican to accept their “road map”. According to these journalists, for the weekend, the local government authorities are preparing a huge party to celebrate the “victory”.
Questioned by AsiaNews, Mgr. Ngo neither confirmed nor denied the reports. But comments and movements within the Curia and among the priests make the news likely.
For at least two years Mgr. Ngo Quang Kiet, archbishop of Hanoi, has been the focus of a regime campaign to have him removed. Indeed, the prelate has always supported the requests and the prayers of faithful of Hanoi who suffer oppression, expropriation of land, churches, cemeteries, along with gratuitous violence.
In the current boom in economic growth and foreign investment, the party members seize land for personal gain, growing wealthy through speculation.
Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet, 58, will be replaced by Msgr. Peter Nguyen Van Nhon, 72, installed as bishop coadjutor of Hanoi on 7 May. The ceremony was contested by teams of hundreds of faithful.
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