http://youtube.com/watch?v=VcYDCGlmTKQ Thousands of Catholic parishioners in Archdiocese of Hanoi, Vietnam have been praying for almost 2 months now to demand the return of the buildings/ land that were used to house the office of Vatican 's Holy Representative in Hanoi, Vietnam for so many years, since the 17th centuries. Many other properties and social services organizations, etc. of Catholic Church of Vietnam also have been armed robbed by Communist authority of Vietnam for decades without mutual agreements, proper compensations, or returns. This specific holy property in Hanoi has been legally owned by Catholic Church of Vietnam with legitimate trust deed. It has been "ARMED ROBBED" by Communist Party of Vietnam since 1940s. Blood of our innocent Catholics will be shed very soon. Please help and pray for our poor Catholics who have been bravely fighting for their human and civil rights including the right of property ownership of their Catholic Church. Thank you. Respectfully, Viet Si Speaker International Movement for Democracy & Human Rights in Vietnam San Jose, California, USA http://www.chuacuuthe.com/   more »

California: thousands shows solidarity to Church in Vietnam SAN JOSE - 22 January 2008 Thousands of Catholics in California have been showing their solidarity to the Church in Vietnam over the weekend, while tensions between the Church and government over confiscated Church properties increased. More than two thousands parishioners of St. Maria Goretti in San José, California, attended a Candlelight Vigil on Saturday to pray for the Church in Vietnam. In the Mass concelebrated by five priests, there were special prayers for Hanoi Catholics who have protested for more than a month for the return of properties that belonged to parish churches, seminaries, and the old apostolic delegation illegally seized in the past. A slide show of ongoing peaceful prayer protests of Hanoi Catholics, despite government threats hinting that a crackdown was likely, caught the congregation's emotions. Many wept as they saw images of Hanoi Catholics have been praying earnestly not only for the justice to triumph but also for the conversion of those who have been treating them as second-class citizens or even a national security threat "I feel proud of my brothers and sisters in Hanoi", said a parishioner, "They have become increasingly vocal about past and current religious freedom abuses". "Their fight for justice is peaceful yet determined. They bear a strong public witness of the Gospel's message even when they are forced to stand up and confront with a brutal dictatorship system", said another. Parishioners including a large group of American Catholics signed petitions to President Bush, politicians, and Bishops to urge the government of Vietnam to meet certain benchmarks consistent with international religious freedom standards and find equitable solutions on returning confiscated properties to religious groups. More than two thousand people also attended a candlelight Vigils at St Elizabeth Church, Milpitas, lead by Fr Victor Tran and at the Church of Our Lady of Assumption in Claremont, Los Angeles Source: An Dang © Independent Catholic News 2008 Contact Independent Catholic News tel/fax: +44 (0)20 7267 3616   more »

The 5th International Vietnamese Youth Conference January 4-6, 2008 Đại Hội Thanh Niên Sinh Viên Việt Nam Thế Giới Kỳ 5 Ngày 4-6, Tháng Giêng, 2008 In an effort to increase the youth's awareness of a democratic society, where the contributions of each Vietnamese person matter, this year's conference is themed "Building Civil Society for Vietnam-- Grassroots Efforts for Democracy." UPDATE: A report from the conference is attached. (in Vietnamese only) Contact information is included.    more »