We, the undersigned Vietnamese priests abroad, want to express our great concern about the present urgent situation of Vietnam's religious life in general, and the life of the Vietnamese Catholic Church in particular.
Though living and serving away from the Fatherland, we as Vietnamese and as priests remain attached to our people and country. We always pray for our people to be truly free and for our country to be prosperous, in which every Vietnamese is loved and respected in accordance with his or her human dignity.
As for religious life in Vietnam, we are convinced that religious freedom is absolutely a basic and spiritual need for man and society. For the future of Vietnam, religious freedom is not only a legitimate demand but also a matter of human rights that needs to be urgently solved. Vietnam will lose an opportunity to create a bright future if the Vietnames people do not have true religious freedom. The history of Vietnam has proved that religious life is strongly tied with the destiny of the people. Once religion is free, society will be peaceful and healthy and a human development will be secured for the country.
It is unfortunate for the Vietnamese people that what is happening in our country increasingly proves that religion is at risk of being used as an instrument by the Vietnamese Communist Government and enslaved by it to the point of dying away in the end. Using this as its strategy involves agonizing policies of the legal system (especially the procedure of begging the government permission and policies of discrimination), unreasonable administrative system, "divide and conquer" causing division among leaders of the same religion, etc. All of these aim to deprive religious belief of sacred values and to render it meaningless and finally useless. Religious freedom in Vietnam is being distorted and trampled brutally and shamelessly by the Vietnamese Communist Government. The present conditions of society are unstable and only conducive to bribery and power abuse at all levels. In the face of these great social problems, religious organizations do not have a right to truly speak out. If they say anything, they must espouse the policies of the government.
Concerning the Vietnamese Catholic Church, we are in one accord with the pastoral approach of the Vietnamese Episcopal Conference as stated in the Joint Letter May 1, 1980: "To live the Gospel in the midst of the people." It is also for the sake of living the Gospel in the midst of the people that we cannot fail to share the common concern of our people as stated in the above observations.
In the spirit
of those observations, we, the undersigned Vietnamese priests abroad, want
to declare our position regarding several urgent issues of the present
situation of religions in Vietnam as follows:
1. We fervently support the spirit of self-engagement
of Reverend Thaddeus Nguyễn-Văn-Lý, a Catholic priest
of the Archdiocese of Huế, and his demands regarding true religious
freedom. At the same time, we also support other religious leaders' legitimate
demands regarding religious freedom. We demand that the Vietnamese Communist
Government guarantee religious leaders' safety and security and their right
to freely exercise religious duties.
2. We demand the Vietnamese Communist Government, for the sake of the future of our people and country, bring to an end religious persecution and insidious and malicious strategy, which is ordered to use religions in Vietnam as instruments leading to their destruction.
3. We call upon freedom loving governments and
international human rights organizations to defend the values of human
rights, which are being trampled on in Vietnam, especially the right to
religious freedom according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Declared in Washington, D.C.
On the Fifteenth of August, 2001
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Body and Soul, into Heaven
Signed by the following Vietnamese priests abroad:
1. Rev. Msgr. Dominic Mai-Thanh-Lương,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, USA.
2. Rev. Joseph Đinh-Công-Huỳnh,
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, USA.
3. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Thanh-Long,
Archdiocese of Washington, USA.
4. Rev. Joachim Trần-Quý-Thiện,
Diocese of Arlington, USA.
5. Rev. Andrew Nguyễn-Hữu-Lễ,
Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand.
6. Rev. Paul Trần-Xuân-Tâm,
Archdiocese of Washington, USA.
7. Rev. Joseph Trần-Kim-Thiện,
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, USA.
8. Rev. Vincent Nguyễn-Hữu-Dụ,
O.P., Canada.
9. Rev. John Đinh-Xuân-Minh,
Diocese of Mainz, Germany.
10. Rev. Joseph Phạm-Xuân-Thắng,
Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, USA.
11. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Phú-An,
Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, USA.
12. Rev. Joseph Tống-Thiện-Liên,
Diocese of Dallas, Texas, USAø.
13. Rev. Joseph Phạm-Thanh-Lương,
Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, USA.
14. Rev. Joseph Trần-Văn-Huân,
Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, USA.
15. Rev. Vincent Kim-Văn-Toan,
Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
16. Rev. Anthony Ngô-Kim-Trạng,
Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, USA.
17. Rev. Dominic Vũ-Ngọc-An,
Archdiocese of Washington, USA.
18. Rev. Peter Phạm-Văn-Chính,
Diocese of St Petersburg, Florida, USA.
19. Rev. Joseph Phạm-Văn-Tuệ,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
20. Rev. John Baptist
Nguyễn-Hùng-Lân, O.F.M., Diocese of Bruxelles,
Belgium.
21. Rev. Matthias Vũ-Ngọc-Đáng,
Diocese of San Jose, California, USA.
22. Rev. Peter Đinh-Ngọc-Quế,
C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Los Angeles, USA.
23. Rev. Alphonsus Nguyễn-Hồ-Đỉnh,
Diocese of Pontoise, France.
24. Rev. Vincent Phan-Hữu-Tòa,
Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, USA.
25. Rev. John Vũ-Hân,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
26. Rev. Peter Phan-Phát-Huồn,
C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Los Angeles, USA.
27. Rev. John Nguyễn-Thành-Chung,
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
28. Rev. Joseph Phạm-Mạnh-Cường,
Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, USA.
29. Rev. Joachim Nguyễn-Dao-Kim,
Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, USA.
30. Rev. Joseph Hoàng-Minh-Thắng,
Archdiocese of Rome, Italy.
31. Rev. Vincent Nguyễn-Văn-Kiên,
Diocese of Honolulu, USA.
32. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Văn-Hùng,
S.S.C., Taiwan.
33. Rev. Alexis Đoàn-Quang-Trường,
Diocese of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
34. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Hùng-Cường,
M.M., New York, USA.
35. Rev. Joachim Vũ-Đình-Thôn,
Diocese of Chiayi, Taiwan.
36. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Minh-Chính,
Archdiocese of Taipei, Taiwan.
37. Rev. Andrew Trần-Cao-Tường,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
38. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Thế-Quang,
Archdiocese of Birmingham, London, England.
39. Rev. Anthony Trần-Hữu-Lân,
Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington, USA.
40. Rev. Joseph Ngô-Quang-Định,
Archdiocese of Tokyo, Japan.
41. Rev. Christopher Lê-Huy-Bảng,
C.Ss.R., Houston,Texas, USA.
42. Rev. Joseph Mai-Thành-Hân,
Archdiocese of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
43. Rev. John Trần-Ngọc-Bích,
C.Ss.R., Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, USA.
44. Rev. Joseph Đoàn-Huy-Chương,
Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, USA.
45. Rev. Paul Chu-Văn-Chi,
Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.
46. Rev. Dominic Nguyễn-Văn-Đồi,
Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.
47. Rev. Canut Nguyễn-Thái-Hoạch,
Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.
48. Rev. Joachim Đoàn-Sĩ-Thục,
Archdiocese of Sydney, Veritas Radio, Philippines.
49. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Minh-Nguyên,
Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.
50. Rev. Dominic Mai-Minh-Luận,
Diocese of Springfield Cape Girardeau, USA.
51. Rev. Joseph Chu-Công,
O.Cist., Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
52. Rev. Joachim Nguyễn-Đình-Đàm,
Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
53. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Xuân-Trường,
Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, USA.
54. Rev. Joseph Lê-Phụng,
C.Ss.R., Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, USA.
55. Rev. Paul Lê-Anh-Vững,
S.V.D., Diocese of San Bernadino, California, USA.
56. Rev. Anthony Trần-Trí-Tuệ,
Diocese of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
57. Rev. Thomas Đỗ-Minh-Tâm,
Diocese of St. Paul Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
58. Rev. Mark Đoàn-Quang-Báu,
C.M.C., Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
59. Rev. Peter Vũ,
Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
60. Rev. Michael Nguyễn-Linh-Ghi,
Diocese of Chiayi, Taiwan.
61. Rev. Joseph Trương-Văn-Phúc,
Diocese of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
62. Rev. Peter Lê-Văn-Quảng,
Diocese of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
63. Rev. Dominic Đinh-Duy-Khiêm,
Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
64. Rev. Joseph Đào-Văn-Nhường,
Archdiocese of Sài Gòn, Retired, Louisiana, USA.
65. Rev. Peter Lê-Thanh-Quang,
Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
66. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Thanh-Bằng,
Incarnational Consecration (Hereafter: I.C.), Archdiocese of New Orleans,
USA.
67. Rev. Francis Nguyễn-Văn-Hòa,
Archdiocese of Oklahoma, USA.
68. Rev. Vincent Trần-Đình-Phúc-Quý,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
69. Rev. Louis Nguyễn-Hậu,
C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Paris, France.
70. Rev. John Nguyễn-Kim-Ngôn,
Diocese of Meaux, Paris, France.
71. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Ngọc-Châu,
Archdiocese of Taipei, Taiwan.
72. Rev. Peter Dương-Bá-Hoạt,
Diocese of Chiaya, Taiwan.
73. Rev. Vincent Trần-Quang-Điềm,
Diocese of Orange, California, USA.
74. Rev. Joseph Châu-Xuân-Báu,
C.Ss.R., Diocese of Dallas, Texas, USA.
75. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Văn-Thái,
Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois, USA.
76. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Đình-Đệ,
Diocese of San Jose, California, USA.
77. Rev. Paul Phạm-Văn-Hội,
Diocese of Orange, California, USA.
78. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Công-Hoán,
Diocese of Fresno, California, USA.
79. Rev. Philip Nguyễân-Văn-Hiếu,
Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, USA.
80. Rev. Peter Đỗ-Quang-Châu,
Diocese of Nasville, Tennessee, USA.
81. Rev. Philip Đinh-Văn-Thiệp,
Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA.
82. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Duy-Hùng,
Diocese of Stockton, California, USA.
83. Rev. Joseph Phạm-Minh-Văn,
Chaplain for Vietnamese Catholics in Switzerland.
84. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Vân-Sơn,
Diocese of Dallas, Texas, USA.
85. Rev. Leo Vũ-Huyến,
C.M.C., Diocese of San Bernardino, California, USA.
86. Rev. Peter Trần-Văn-Trợ,
S.J., Australia.
87. Rev. Augustine Nguyễn-Đức-Thụ,
S.J. Australia.
88. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Mộng-Thơ,
Diocese of Tours, France.
89. Rev. Maurice Nguyễn-Văn-Danh,
O.S.B., Monastery of Buckfast, England.
90. Rev. Stephen Nguyễn-Mạnh-Tân,
O.F.M., Archdiocese of San Francisco, USA.
91. Rev. Peter Mary Nguyễn-Hữu-Hiến,
Archdiocese of Tokyo, Japan.
92. Rev. Andrew Dũng-Lạc
Cao-Duy-Linh, O.F.M., Diocese of Nayoga, Japan.
93. Rev. John Baptist
Nguyễn-Viết-Huy, S.J., Australia.
94. Rev. Vincent Trần-Văn-Bằng,
Diocese of Bamberg, Germany.
95. Rev. Peter Hoàng-Kim-Huy,
O.S.B., Archdiocese of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
96. Rev. Paul Tạ-Thanh-Bình,
C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
97. Rev. Joseph Phan-Đương,
C.Ss.R., Diocese of Oakland, California, USAø.
98. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Ngọc-Thân,
Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
99. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Hùng-Đức,
Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, USA.
100. Rev. Paul Nguyễn-Hùng-Cường,
S.V.D., Iowa, USA.
101. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Thành,
Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, USA.
102. Rev. Louis Vũ-Lâm,
Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, USA.
103. Rev. Francis Xavier
Nguyễn-Trung-Dũng, Diocese of Nagasaki, Japan.
104. Rev. Joseph Cao-Phương-Kỷ,
Diocese of Honolulu, Hawai, USA.
105. Rev. Dominic Nguyễn-Văn-Hảo,
Diocese of St. Jean Longueuil, Canada.
106. Rev. Peter Ngô-Đình-Thỏa,
C.Ss.R., Archdiocese of Los Angeles, USA.
107. Rev. Joseph Đồng-Văn-Vinh,
Archdiocese of Perth, Australia.
108. Rev. Andrew Phạm-Quang-Phong,
Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
109. Rev. Joseph Trần-Minh-Nhật,
Archdiocese of Perth, Australia.
110. Rev. Stephen Bùi-Thượng-Lưu,
Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany.
111. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Đức,
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
112. Rev. Michael Joseph
Nguyễn-Ngọc-Vinh, Archdiocese of New Orleans, USA.
113. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Đảo,
S.V.D., Indiana, USA.
114. Rev. Joseph Trần-Thế-Mẫn,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, USA.
115. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Chính,
Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
116. Rev. Francis Bùi-Quyết,
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA.
117. Rev. John Baptist
Nguyễn-Văn-Hiền, Diocese of Long Island, New York,
USA.
118. Rev. Peter Mary Bùi-Công-Minh,
Diocese of Orange, California, USA.
119. Rev. Joseph Đinh-Xuân-Long,
Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
120. Rev. Peter Trần-Điền,
Retired, Carthage, Missouri, USA.
121. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Đức-Dũng,
Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
122. Rev. Joseph Đỗ-Bá-Ái,
Wyoming, Michigan, USA.
123. Rev. Jerome Nguyễn-Thanh-Lâm,
O.S.B., Carthage, Missouri, USA.
124. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Văn-Phong,
(Society of the House of the Lord), Diocese of Dallas, Texas, USA.
125. Rev. Dominic Đỗ-Duy-Nho,
Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
126. Rev. Peter Trần-Việt-Hùng,
Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, USA.
127. Rev. John Baptist
Trần-Văn-Tân, Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
128. Rev. Anthony Nguyễn-Văn-Đô,
Archdiocese of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, USA.
129. Rev. Peter Trần-Đình-Thảo,
Diocese of Hoalien, Taiwan.
130. Rev. Joseph Vũ-Xuân-Minh,
Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
131. Rev. John Bosco Phạm-Trung-Thực,
C.M.C., Archdiocese of Boston, USA.
132. Rev. Martin Nguyễn-Thanh,
I.C., Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
133. Rev. Thomas Thiên-Định,
I.C., Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
134. Rev. Peter Nguyễn-Việt-Tân,
I.C., Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
135. Rev. Msgr. PhilipTrần-Văn-Hoài,
Vatican, Rome, Italy.
136. Rev. Thomas Nguyễn-Văn-Chánh,
Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
137. Rev. Joseph Nguyễn-Hùng-Cường,
Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, USA.
138. Rev. Thomas Đỗ-Thanh-Hà,
Diocese of Orange, California, USA.
139. Rev. Thomas Nguyễn-Xuân-Toàn,
Archdiocese of San Francisco, California, USA.
140. Rev. Peter Ngô-Công-Thắng,
Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California, USA
141. Rev. Dominic Đinh-Minh-Hải,
C.Ss.R., Diocese of Dallas, Texas, USA.
142. Rev. Joseph Phạm-Đức-Khởi,
Diocese of Stockton, California, USA.
143. Rev. Vincent Phạm-Minh-Châu,
S.V.D., Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
144. Rev. Joseph Trần
Đình Huynh, S.V.D., Archdiocese of Taipei, Taiwan/ R.O.C.
