CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES ALONG ROUTE ONE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002949

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL/RF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2006
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL VM RELFREE HUMANR ETMIN
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES ALONG ROUTE ONE


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY ROBERT C. PORTER, JR., CHARGE
D'AFFAIRES, A.I., REASON: 1.5 (D)


2. (C) SUMMARY. EVIDENCE OF CATHOLIC LIFE ALONG ROUTE
ONE BETWEEN HO CHI MINH CITY AND HANOI IS ABUNDANT IN
MANY SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL LOCATIONS BUT TENDS TO
DIMINISH FARTHER NORTH. BISHOPS AND PRIESTS REPORT
OFTEN THRIVING CONGREGATIONS BUT LAMENT INSUFFICIENT
NUMBERS OF PRIESTS. UNOFFICIALLY-RECOGNIZED NUNS IN
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DANANG RUN A CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND A PRE-
SCHOOL PROGRAM, FINANCED IN PART BY EXPORTS OF
HANDICRAFTS. SOME CATHOLIC LEADERS INDICATED THAT
FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY HAD BEEN ASKING FOR TROUBLE IN THE
RUN-UP TO HIS ARREST AND LENGTHY SENTENCE, BUT
EXPRESSED REGRET THAT GVN AUTHORITIES WOULD NOT PERMIT
PRISON VISITS BY CATHOLIC CLERGY. END SUMMARY.


3. (U) DURING OCTOBER 25-NOVEMBER 2 TRAVEL BY EMBASSY
VEHICLE BETWEEN HO CHI MINH CITY AND HANOI (SEPTELS
FOCUS ON DISCUSSIONS WITH PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS),POL/C
AND POL FSN MADE NUMEROUS IMPROMPTU VISITS TO CATHOLIC
CHURCHES ALONG THE ROADSIDE, AS WELL AS STOPS AT SOME
PROTESTANT CHURCHES AND BUDDHIST TEMPLES. PRIESTS AND
BISHOPS SEEMED HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS LOCAL
CONDITIONS; WHEN CLERICS WERE NOT PRESENT, POL/C
TALKED WITH PARISHIONERS ABOUT PARISH ACTIVITIES AND
CONCERNS.

BIEN HOA: CATHOLIC CENTRAL
--------------


4. (U) BIEN HOA PROVINCIAL CAPITAL DONG NAI IS ABOUT
45 KILOMETERS NORTH OF HO CHI MINH CITY ALONG ROUTE ONE
AND HOME TO MANY OF THE CATHOLIC REFUGEES WHO LEFT THE
NORTH IN 1954. FOR MILES ALONG THE HIGHWAY, CATHOLIC
CHURCHES LINE THE HIGHWAY EVERY COUPLE HUNDRED FEET.
MANY OF THESE OFTEN LARGE AND STUNNING CHURCHES WERE
REBUILT IN THE 1990S WHEN IT BECAME EASIER FOR FAMILIES
AND FRIENDS OVERSEAS TO SEND MONEY TOWARD THE
REPLACEMENT AND/OR EXPANSION OF EARLIER CHURCH
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BUILDINGS. MANY IF NOT MOST OF THESE PARISHES REMAIN
BASED ON ORIGINAL PARISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE NORTH AND
RETAIN SOME LINKS WITH THEIR ORIGINAL PARISH.


5. (SBU) TAN TINH PARISH, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW BOASTS A
STUNNING TWO YEAR OLD HEXAGONAL CHURCH, REPORTEDLY
BUILT AT A COST OF USD 500,000 AND CAPABLE OF SEATING
OVER 1,000 PEOPLE. AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE ATTEND THE
DAILY 5 A.M. MASSES, ACCORDING TO PARISHIONERS. ONLY
ONE PRIEST SERVES THIS ACTIVE PARISH, HOWEVER. SAI
QUAT PARISH, WHOSE 4,000 MEMBERS COME MOSTLY FROM THAI
BINH PROVINCE, ALSO HAVE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE FOR EARLY
MORNING DAILY MASS AND AT LEAST 1,000 CHILDREN STUDYING
CATECHISM. ITS PRIEST CLAIMED THAT BIBLES AND TEACHING
MATERIALS WERE SUFFICIENT BUT THAT CLASSROOM SPACE WAS
NOT. MONEY FROM OVERSEAS WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
REBUILDING; THE PRIEST SAID THAT THE CHURCH WAS NOW
ABLE TO OFFER SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ORIGINAL
PARISH IN THE NORTH.


6. (C) NEARBY THACH LAM PARISH STEMS FROM THE 1954
EXODUS FROM NAM BINH AND NOW HAS A SEATING CAPACITY FOR
OVER 1,000 PEOPLE ON ITS ELABORATE GRANITE BENCHES (A
LOCAL SPECIALITY). IT, TOO, HAS OVER "HUNDREDS" OF
CATECHISM STUDENTS BUT ONLY ONE PRIEST. CARPENTERS
WERE BUSY BUILDING ADDITIONAL WOODEN BENCHES FOR THE
OVERFLOW CROWDS WHO MUST SIT OUTSIDE DURING THE MORE
CROWDED SUNDAY MASSES. LAC HOA PARISHIONERS ARE MOSTLY
NATIVES OF THAI BINH PROVINCE; THE FRENCH-SPEAKING
PRIEST CLAIMED THAT ABOUT 1,000 OF ITS 5,000 MEMBERS
TURN UP FOR EARLY MORNING MASS EVERY DAY. HE IS
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ASSISTED BY A YOUNGER CURATE WHO, BOTH PRIESTS SAID,
HAD NOT BEEN ALLOWED BY THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE ON
RELIGION TO BECOME A PRIEST OFFICIALLY FOLLOWING
SEMINARY. IT OFFERS CATECHISM CLASSES TO ABOUT 1,000
STUDENTS. NEW MEMBERS TEND TO BE ONLY THOSE WHO MARRY
INTO CATHOLIC FAMILIES; THE PRIEST SAID THAT THERE
WERE FEW EXAMPLES OF VIETNAMESE HAVING BEEN CONVERTED
BY FRIENDS.

NORTHWARD
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7. (C) THUAN DIEN PARISH LIES IN NINH THUAN PROVINCE
NORTH OF PHAN THIET. IT HOSTS TWO CHURCHES WITH TOTAL
MEMBERSHIP OF ABOUT 2,000 SERVED BY TWO PRIESTS. ABOUT
200 PEOPLE COME FOR MORNING MASSES, AND IT OFFERS BIBLE
CLASSES TWICE A WEEK FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16. HO DIEN
CHURCH, ALSO IN NINH THUAN PROVINCE, BOASTS A BEAUTIFUL
100-YEAR OLD CHURCH BUILDING THAT WAS RECENTLY
RENOVATED. ONE OF ITS TWO PRIESTS BEMOANED THE
FRUSTRATIONS THE PARISH HAD FACED IN OBTAINING
PERMISSION FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR EVERY STEP OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION. HE ALSO POINTED TO AN ADJACENT LARGE
SCHOOL BUILDING AND EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN
OVER BY THE STATE IN 1975. CHURCH AUTHORITIES ARE
STILL IN TOUCH WITH THE LAST FRENCH PRIEST WHO SERVED
THIS PARISH, HE ADDED. ABOUT 400 CHILDREN ATTEND
CATECHISM CLASSES BUT CLASSROOM SPACE IS A CONSTRAINT.

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8. (U) BEYOND DANANG, CHURCH BUILDINGS ARE NOTICEABLY
FEWER ALONG ROUTE ONE. LOCAL AUTHORITIES CLAIMED IN
SOME PLACES INCLUDING QUANG NAM AND QUANG TRI PROVINCES
THAT U.S. BOMBING HAD DESTROYED EARLIER CHURCHES. THE
CHURCH AT LA VANG IN QUANG TRI, WHERE UP TO 100,000
CATHOLICS GATHER EVERY THREE YEARS TO COMMEMORATE THE
APPEARANCE OF THE VIRGIN MARY, IS ONE SUCH BOMBED OUT
CHURCH. ANOTHER EDIFICE REMAINS IN RUINS ALONG THE
RIVER IN DOWNTOWN DONG HAI, CAPITAL OF QUANG BINH
PROVINCE, ALTHOUGH POL/C WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM HOW IT
WAS DESTROYED. NOT UNTIL PHAT DIEM DISTRICT IN NINH
BINH PROVINCE (SEPTEL) IN THE NORTH DOES THERE APPEAR
TO BE ANY MAJOR CONCENTRATION OF CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND
COMMUNITIES.

DANANG
--------------


9. (SBU) OVER 80 CATHOLIC NUNS HAVE SINCE 1993 BEEN
RUNNING A CENTER FOR OVER 100 HANDICAPPED YOUTH NEXT
DOOR TO THE 75-YEAR OLD PINK CATHEDRAL IN DOWNTOWN
DANANG. SEVERAL SISTERS EXPLAINED THAT THEIR ORDER
ALSO OPERATES 46 "HOUSES" FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN,
LEPERS, AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN NATIONWIDE,
INCLUDING IN MINORITY AREAS OF BAN ME THUOT, KON TUM,
AND GIA LAI. THEY ASSERTED THAT THE STATE RUNS NO SUCH
SCHOOLS OR CENTERS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THEY ALSO
PROVIDE A CENTER FOR MORE THAN 600 PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN,
MOSTLY FROM FAMILIES WITH TWO WORKING PARENTS. THEY
RECEIVE NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND MAINTAIN
THEMSELVES PRIMARILY BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OVERSEAS AND
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SALES (MOSTLY EXPORT) OF EMBROIDERY.


10. (C). SEVERAL SISTERS ASSERTED THAT THE STATE DOES
NOT RECOGNIZE THEIR RELIGIOUS STATUS OFFICIALLY. MANY
HAD TAKEN THEIR VOWS BEFORE 1975; THEY CLAIMED THAT NO
ONE HAS BEEN ALLOWED OFFICIALLY TO BECOME A NUN SINCE
THEN. NEW SISTERS HAVE JOINED "SECRETLY" BUT THE
CONVENT HAS PREFERRED NOT TO ASK FOR PERMISSION DUE TO
THEIR CONVICTION THE STATE WOULD REFUSE. THE LOCAL
COMMITTEE ON RELIGION APPEARS TO BE WELL AWARE OF THEIR
EXISTENCE, HOWEVER. SISTERS DESCRIBED HOW THE
COMMITTEE KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON THEIR EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES AND HAS FORCED A CLEAR DEMARCATION -- A
FENCE, SEPARATE KITCHENS -- BETWEEN THE CENTER AND THE
CONVENT ITSELF. THEY NOTED THAT THEY WERE EXTREMELY
CAREFUL NEVER TO DISCUSS RELIGION WITH THE CHILDREN OR
TO UNDERTAKE ANY PROSELYTIZING.

BISHOPS SPEAK OUT
--------------


11. (C) THE BISHOP OF DANANG DESCRIBED THE THREE
MAJOR DIFFICULTIES FACING THE CHURCH TODAY AS SELECTION
OF BISHOPS, ORDINATION OF PRIESTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR TRAINING. HE CLAIMED THAT THE SITUATION WAS AT
LEAST "BETTER NOW" AND NOTED THE MORE THAN 1,000
STUDENTS TAKING CATECHISM AND BIBLE CLASSES AT HIS
CATHEDRAL. ONE OF THE FIVE SUNDAY SERVICES IS
EXPLICITLY DIRECTED AT YOUTH GROUPS.


12. (C) THE BISHOP OF THANH HOA, WHO JUST STEPPED
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DOWN AS THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EPISCOPAL
CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS, NOTED THAT THE INTEREST IN THE
CHURCH WAS NOWADAYS LIMITED IN PARTICULAR DUE TO
ONGOING PREOCCUPATION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
STATUS, AND BY SMALLER FAMILY SIZE. PARENTS ARE LESS
WILLING TO HAVE AN ONLY SON ENTER THE PRIESTHOOD, HE
SAID. HE INSISTED THAT RELATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE ON RELIGION WERE "BETTER THAN BEFORE," AND
CLAIMED THAT SRV OFFICIALS WERE NOW "LESS INVOLVED" IN
CHURCH AFFAIRS. HE DESCRIBED ONGOING, ACTIVE
COMMUNICATION WITH THE VATICAN, BOTH BY E-MAIL AND BY
TELEPHONE, AND SAID THAT THE SRV IS AWARE OF SUCH
LIAISON AND RAISES NO OBJECTION. HE HIMSELF HAS BEEN
TO THE VATICAN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE NOTED.


13. (C) THE BISHOP ADDED WITH PRIDE THAT EACH OF THE
401 CHURCHES IN HIS DIOCESE HAS ONE OR TWO PRIESTS, BUT
NOTED THAT THIS NUMBER WAS CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT FOR THE
SIZE OF THE MEMBERSHIP. ON SUNDAYS, HE ESTIMATED THAT
1500 PEOPLE WORSHIP AT THE CATHEDRAL, WITH ABOUT 100
PEOPLE AT THE DAILY MORNING MASS. HE SAID HE REGRETTED
THAT CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN MINORITY AREAS OPERATED
ENTIRELY IN VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE AND THAT THERE WERE, AS
OF YET, NO PRIESTS FROM AN ETHNIC MINORITY.

FATHER LY
--------------


14. (C) THE BISHOP OF DANANG SAID THAT, WHILE HE
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REGRETTED THE LENGTHY SENTENCE ON FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY,
FATHER LY'S ACTIVITIES HAD BEEN "NOT GOOD" AND THAT HE
HAD INDEED BEEN MIXING POLITICS AND RELIGION IN WAYS
AGAINST WHICH HE HAD BEEN WARNED. THE BISHOP OF THANH
HOA CALLED FATHER LY'S CASE "COMPLICATED" AND SAID THAT
HE BELIEVED THAT FATHER LY'S GREATEST "CRIME" HAD BEEN
TO ADVOCATE A "MULTI-PARTY" SYSTEM. HE CLAIMED THAT
FATHER LY HAD "PUSHED" TOO HARD AND HAD FAILED TO
ACCEPT DISCIPLINE EITHER FROM THE CHURCH OR FROM THE
STATE AND HAD CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE "PERSONAL" VIEWS.


15. (C) THE BISHOP OF THANH HOA NONETHELESS EXPRESSED
A HOPE THAT FATHER LY WOULD DEMONSTRATE A "GOOD
ATTITUDE" IN PRISON AND NOT HAVE TO SERVE THE ENTIRE
SENTENCE. HE CONFIRMED, HOWEVER, THAT PRIESTS AND
MINISTERS WERE BARRED FROM MAKING PRISON VISITS;
FATHER LY WILL BE UNABLE TO MAKE A CONFESSION OR TAKE
THE SACRAMENT WHILE HE IS IMPRISONED, HE NOTED. HE
ADDED THAT THE CHURCH HAD NOT PRESSED FOR PRISON ACCESS
TO CATHOLIC PRISONERS, NOTING THAT IN SOME CASES "THE
STATE STILL DOES NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND RELIGION."


16. (C) COMMENT: CATHOLIC AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LIFE
CONTINUES TO HAVE A NOTICEABLE AND OFTEN VIBRANT
PRESENCE THROUGHOUT VIETNAM, ALTHOUGH ITS VISIBILITY
AND DYNAMISM IS VARIABLE. THERE APPEARS TO BE A BROAD
RECOGNITION BY CATHOLICS AND OTHERS THAT THE OFFICIAL
ENVIRONMENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIFE HAS IMPROVED
DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS AND THAT FEWER
CONSTRAINTS NOW EXIST ON STATE-SANCTIONED SERVICES OR
CONTACTS WITH RELIGIOUS ENTITIES ABROAD.
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PORTER

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