AsiaNews
by J.B. An Dang
09/16/2013 13:13
A 10 minute report aired last night made slanderous accusations against Msgr. Paul Nguyen Thai Hop and the local Catholic community . The prelate is charged with leading a revolt , exploiting a story to create legal cases of religious persecution . Diocesan website risks closure. Vietnamese Catholics at home and abroad united in defense of the prelate.
Vinh (AsiaNews) – Vietnamese authorities, with the support of the media, have launched a new , violent attack against the Vinh diocese and Msgr . Paul Nguyen Thai Hop, “guilty” of asking for the release of two parishioners imprisoned for months without motive. In a 10-minute report broadcast last night by state television harsh accusations were made against the prelate , guilty of “lying , breaking the law on purpose and inciting to revolt ” against Hanoi. The Catholics are accused of having “artfully fabricated” a legal issue – this is what the authorities say – to transform it into a case of “religious persecution .” And the smear campaign was followed by threats against the Catholic community of My Yen and Nghe An, with the promise of “new arrests” if the protests continued .
“In an interview with foreign journalists – claimed the state television broadcast service in Hanoi yesterday – t Bishop Nguyen Thai Hop manipulated the truth, made false accusations against the government of Vietnam in order to transform what is a normal procedure into a case of persecution against the Church . ” The prelate also apparently “took advantage” of Catholics and their good faith to “foment riots.” The report ended with a warning , which sounded more like a threat : “no one is above the law” and there will be ” more arrests ” if the rebellion continues.
Read more: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Vietnamese-Government-and-State-TV-launch-fresh-attacks-on-Bishop-of-Vinh-29019.html
