Religion Roundup
Vietnamese Order Archbishop to Stop Prayer Vigils
Associated Press
September 23, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam - Vietnam's communist leaders have threatened legal action against Hanoi's Roman Catholic archbishop unless he disbands prayer vigils to demand the return of former church lands.
Government media have questioned the archbishop's patriotism and have quoted a letter from Hanoi's mayor accusing the archbishop of instigating unrest.
Under Vietnamese law, prayer is only allowed at church. But Catholics have been holding prayer vigils to demand the return of two plots of church land that were seized decades ago by communist authorities.
Church officials say they have old documents proving the land belongs to them, but city officials say the land belongs to Hanoi and will not be returned.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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