Hanoi archdiocese protests police 'sacrilege'

January 08, 2010

The destruction of a crucifix at a parish cemetery was a sacrilege and a direct insult to the Catholic faith, the Archdiocese of Hanoi has said in a statement protesting the action. The crucifix was destroyed by police, using explosives, during an early-morning raid on the parish.

Local government officials have claimed that the crucifix was erected on land owned by the government. The archdiocese responds that the plot “has always been in the ownership of the parish since its establishment more than a hundred years ago.” The land has been used as a cemetery since 1944, added an archdiocesan spokesman.

Calling the demolition of the crucifix “an extreme act of sacrilege,” the archdiocese also pointed out that police attacked parishioners who tried to defend the crucifix. “To brutally assault the unarmed, innocent civilians is a savage and inhumane act as human dignity is severely hurt,” the archdiocesan spokesman said.

 

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Further information:

• Diocese of Hanoi: destruction of the crucifix of Dong Chiem "true sacrilege" (AsiaNews)
• Vietnam: Hanoi parish attacked by police (CWN, 1/6)