Joshua Gill on December 20, 2017
A Vietnamese Catholic priest accused police of intentionally allowing a communist gang to destroy a church nativity scene that government authorities wanted to remove.
Experience The Political Insider without ads
Father Dominic Pham Xuan Ke of Dong Kieu church in Vietnam alleged that police allowed a communist gang known as the “red flag group” to destroy the church’s nativity scene after parishioners refused to remove it, according to Express. Church parishioners and neighboring congregations rallied to defend the nativity after government authorities told the church to remove the display and claimed that it was on disputed land.
“We strongly oppose their illegal and unreasonable demand,” one parishioner said in response to the government order, according to UCA News.
Church leadership claimed that they set their nativity display on church property and therefore had a right to keep it.
Experience The Political Insider without ads
Xuan Ke alleged that the red flag group threatened violence against the nativity display and that police did nothing to prevent them from carrying out their threat. Vandals attacked the church’s Christmas displays Dec. 13, shortly after government officials demanded they be removed. Attackers smashed Christmas lights and other elements of the display along the road to the church.
Xuan Ke held a special mass at the church the day after the attack as parishioners and members of nearby congregations gathered for a demonstration in defense of the nativity display.
“Why do authorities here ban erecting nativities?” Xuan Ke asked, according to Express.
The laws governing religious freedom in Vietnam are complicated, as the country’s constitution states that every citizen has the right to believe and practice whichever faith they choose, while individual laws allow the government to severely restrict and regulate religious practices, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam. The Vietnamese government permitted the establishment of a Catholic institution in the country in 2016 for the first time since 1975.
Read this Next on ThePoliticalInsider.com
More Businesses Celebrate Tax Reform Investing In EmployeesThe opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Political Insider.
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.
Communists/Socialists are exactly the same in this country. A most despicable group of low life humans on this earth. Its typical of the sickness that self loathing liberals and socialists carry with them on a daily basis.
Communism & Socialism have destroyed more religious icons than anyone else, and yet their are people who believe these two system are good for the people. The only people who benefit from those type of governments are the Politicians. They cannot have full control over your life if you are a believer.