Letter to Pope Benedict XVI
- From: hailua <hai-lua@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 11:48:43 -0400
* <vietsi2002@xxxxxxxxx> (Vietsi) wrote:
To: Pope Benedict XVI Vatican City
Re: Serious concerns about the possibility of misinterpretation of
Catholic Canon Law by the Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops
(VNCCB).
Dear Holy Father:
As faithful Catholics, we have been seriously concerned about the
possibility of illegitimate political endorsement and support of the
Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops (VNCCB) to two Catholic
priests who recently had run for offices in the Congress of Socialist
Republic of Vietnam on May 20, 07 and were successfully elected.
These Catholic priests are:
- The Rev. Tran Manh Cuong, Pas! tor of Duy Hoa parish in Dak Lak
province. He is also the President of the Communist Catholic Union
Committee of Dak Lak. He used to be the council member of Dak Lak.
- The Rev. Le Ngoc Hoan, Pastor of Xuan Phu parish in Xuan Truong
District in Nam Dinh province. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the
Communist Catholic Union Committee of Nam Dinh.
According to the code of Canon Law of Roman Catholic Church of 1917
and its 1983 Revision, Catholic priests are flatly prohibited from
holding governmental office: Canon 285.3 plainly states "Clerics are
forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the
exercise of civil power." The legislative history of this norm makes
obvious the Legislator's intent to eliminate any exceptions to this
rule. See Peters, Incrementa in Progressu at 234
We would like to request a written explanation from the Vietnamese
Conference of Catholic Bishops (VNCCB) pertaining to its illegitimate
"political" endorsement to Rev. Tran Manh Cuong and Rev. Le Ngoc Hoan
relating to its strict compliance to the Canon law.
It seems the VNCCB has seriously contradicted with itself when is had
condemned Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly of getting involved in
political activities to be trialed and imprisoned while it has
"politically" endorsed Rev. Tran and Rev. Le running for offices in
the communist Congress and were elected.
During the kang! aroo trial of only a few hours on March 30, 07 Father
Ly's mouth was immediately and tightly smothered when he had
peacefully denounced the illegality and atrocities of the current
un-elected communist authorities in Vietnam (referenced picture
attached).
We appreciate your sound judgments to bring back justice to our Father
Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly who has been repeatedly jailed for total of
over 15 years only because he has campaigned Religious Freedom,
Democracy and Human Rights for his beloved 85 million Vietnamese
inside Vietnam.
Referenced URLs:
http://www.hdgmvietnam.org/demo/Tin-Tuc-Giao-Hoi-Cong-Giao/2007/5/F868B389C
(This URL has been recently cancelled / abolished by the original
webmaster/ VCCB)
http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_PX.HTM
Respectfully yours,
Vincente Viet Si
Spokesperson
International Movement for Democracy and Human Rights in
VietnamQuebec, Canada and San Jose , California . USA
Cc: Catholic Bishops, priests, parishes, parishioners, religious and
political leaders around the world.
Attachment: Picture of Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly who has been
imprisoned for 8 years and 6 years of home confinement and whose mouth
was smothered during his Kangaroo trial on March 30, 07.
Excerpt of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
unanimously approved by the 8th National Assembly on April 15th, 1992
at1: 45 AM.
CHAPTERFIVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE CITIZENS.
Article 50
In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam human rights in the political,
civic, economic, cultural an! d social fields are respected. They are
embodied in the citizen's rights and are determined by the
Constitution and the law. Article 51
The State guarantees the rights of the citizen; the citizen must
fulfill his duties to the State and society .
Article 53
The citizen has the right to participate in the administration of the
State and management of society, the discussion of problems of the
country and the region; he can send petitions to State organs and vote
in referendums organized by the State.
Article 58
The citizen enjoys the right of ownership with regard to his lawful
income, savings, housing, chattel, means of production funds and other
possessions in enterprises or other economic organizations; with
regard to land entrusted by the State for use, the matter is regulated
by the provisions of Articles 17 and 18.
Article 69
The citizen shall enjoy freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of the
press, the right to be informed, and the right to assemble, form
associations and hold demonstrations in accordance with the provisions
of the law.
Article 70
The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can
follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the
law.
Article 71
The citizen shall enjoy inviolability of the person and the protection
of the law with regard to his life, health, honor and dignity. No one
can be arrested in the absence of a ruling by the People's Court, a
ruling or sanction of the People's Office of Supervision and Control
except in case of flagrant of fences. Taking a person into, or holding
him in, custody must be done with full observance of the law. It is
strictly forbidden to use all forms of harassment and coercion,
torture, violation of his honor and dignity, against a citizen.
.
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