Faith helps Vietnam's Catholics overcome war scars, hardship
Catechumens join the offertory procession during a Mass for baptism of Catholic converts in Phu Cam Cathedral in Hue, Vietnam on May 24. (Photo: Archdiocese of Hue)
HANOI: Irenaeus Ho lost his right leg during the Vietnam War, but he never misses out on Sunday Mass at his small parish Church in Quang Tri province.When he was a teenager, Ho was a South Vietnamese soldier and fought against northern communist forces until he was seriously injured in a battle at Khe Sanh in 1968.'In those days, we didn't dare dream of having a church here,' Ho told UCA News.After the war ended in 1975 and the communists took over all of Vietnam, soldiers and civil servants like Ho who worked under the Western-backed South were detained, sent to re-education camps and forced to clear land mines.Many Catholics were forced to relocate to other areas as a form of punishment after being labeled as traitors and anti-communist. Churches and Church-run properties were confiscated nationwide.'This land was destroyed by war, and religion was under tight control for decades,' Ho recalled.Ho's Ba Long sub-parish in Khe Sanh was once dubbed 'hell on earth' during the war. When the fighting intensified, most of the local Catholic population fled south or were detained, sent to re-education camps, or crossed the border into Laos.A Catholic father of four and now in his seventies, Ho was among many Catholics forcibly resettled in Ba Long decades ago. There was no Church, no priest and no religious activity due to an unofficial but effective ban on religion.Ho recalled that Catholic families lived under surveillance, endured discrimination, and faced restrictions on their religious practices.'Back then, we had to walk 70 kilometers through forests to attend Mass in Dong Ha and stay the night just to join the Sunday liturgy,' he recalled. 'Government officials insulted and threatened us when we returned.'Priests ministered discreetly. Father Francis Xavier Le Van Cao, then pastor of Dong Ha Parish, would disguise himself as a farmer and bike to Khe Sanh to administer sacraments secretly. He dared not celebrate Mass openly, fearing arrest.The local chapel, bombed in 1968, lay in ruins for years. But faith refused to die. Families gathered quietly to pray.'Those were painful years, but they strengthened our belief and deepened our unity,' Ho said.
'Rising from the ashes'
Prompted mainly by Vietnam's worsening socio-economic situation following the war, the communist government adopted the Doi Moi (renovation) policy in the 1980s.
From ruins to renewal
After the country's 1975 reunification, Hue archdiocese — like many other dioceses in the Southeast Asian country — saw its seminaries, schools, hospitals, charities and other facilities confiscated by the government.
A Church reborn
Further south, covering Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, the Catholic Church has experienced a dramatic resurgence.
Faith passed on with gratitude
For younger generations, the sacrifices of their parents and grandparents are a source of deep pride.
'For the past 50 years, we have lived our faith by loving, forgiving, and entrusting everything to God — even in the darkest times,' Tran added.--ucanews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysia Sun
2 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
News Analysis: China's openness to multilateralism empowers Global South, counters protectionism, experts say
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Xinhua) -- China's continued commitment to free and open trade, as well as balanced multilateral cooperation, is not only empowering its own economic growth but also providing a strong foundation for developing economies across the Global South amid mounting global uncertainty, according to analysts. OPEN TRADE STANCE BOLSTERING GLOBAL SOUTH China's participation in the recent ASEAN-China-GCC Summit underscores its role as an economic anchor, helping to counterbalance the harmful effects of rising protectionism and unilateral policies by certain countries, said Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia, in a recent interview with Xinhua. "The summit allows ASEAN, GCC, and China to align more closely with the broader Global South's interest and agenda," Lee said. "Such platforms provide opportunities to amplify their voice and also discuss new ways to cooperate amidst global uncertainty," she further explained, adding that it was also a good opportunity for the Global South to try to reshape the world order to be more inclusive and diverse. "As some countries are becoming more protectionist and isolationist, the summit was a good initiative and effort to counter these emerging trends. The summit proves that economies can complement rather than compete with one another, easing the worries that countries can only develop if they turn inward," she said, adding that such a cooperative model could serve as a successful template for other groupings with China. EXPANDING PRACTICAL COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT Malaysian experts also stress the importance of practical and inclusive cooperation among developing nations. The summit offers a promising platform for South-South collaboration in key sectors, especially for countries seeking alternatives to Western-dominated systems. Andrew Kam Jia Yi, a senior research fellow with the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies at the National University of Malaysia, highlighted the increasingly fractious nature of global technological development and the need for more inclusive cooperation frameworks. He pointed out that sharing would benefit from closer cooperation between countries that are at risk of U.S. pressure over their engagement with China, enabling them to continue their development and adoption of new technology. "The summit opens new pathways for South-South collaboration, where nations can support one another through trade, joint infrastructure projects, and technology sharing," he said. "It is particularly complementary in critical areas such as renewable energy, digital innovation, and public health." "This cooperation will be able to pursue an independent path of free and open trade and multilateralism. They can pursue their own paths," Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, also told Xinhua. ADVANCING MULTIPOLAR VISION FOR A CHANGING WORLD Kam also observed a broader strategic shift as Global South countries increasingly push back against Western pressure, particularly in areas such as monetary policy. Instead, these countries are seeking cooperation with partners who are grounded in respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and mutual benefit. "The summit supports practical steps to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar by promoting local currency trade and regional financial tools, helping these economies better withstand global financial shocks. Ultimately, the summit represents more than just policy agreements," he said. "(Multilateral engagement) fosters a multipolar dialogue that values diversity in development models and encourages the exchange of ideas and resources. This broadens the scope of multilateralism to include voices that have often been underrepresented in global decision-making processes, thereby making the international system more representative and equitable," he added. According to Azmi Hassan, U.S. policies have "backfired spectacularly," leading to increased engagement and cooperation among Global South partners. "Aggressive policies by the 'Global North' are only driving stronger cooperation and strengthening trade and economic links," he added.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Rescuers say Israeli fire kills at least 27 near Gaza aid point
GAZA CITY: Rescuers said the Israeli military killed at least 27 people near a US-backed aid centre in Gaza on Tuesday, with the army reporting it had fired on 'suspects who advanced toward the troops'. The UN human rights chief condemned such attacks as a 'breach of international law and a war crime', after a similar shooting in the same area of southern Gaza on Sunday killed and wounded scores of Palestinians seeking aid, according to the civil defence agency. Tuesday's shooting in the southern city of Rafah came as the agency reported 19 killed in other Israeli attacks in the territory, and as the Israeli army announced three soldiers had been killed in northern Gaza. 'Twenty-seven people were killed and more than 90 injured in the massacre targeting civilians who were waiting for American aid in the Al-Alam area of Rafah,' said civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal, who earlier told AFP the deaths occurred 'when Israeli forces opened fire with tanks and drones'. The Al-Alam roundabout is about a kilometre (a little over half a mile) from an aid centre run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a recently formed group that Israel has worked with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in the territory. The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the group, saying it contravenes humanitarian principles and appears designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. The military said a crowd was moving towards the aid centre when troops saw them 'deviating from the designated access routes'. 'The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects who advanced toward the troops,' it said, adding it was 'aware of reports regarding casualties' and was looking into the details. Rania al-Astal, 30, said she had gone to the area with her husband to try to get food. 'The shooting began intermittently around 5:00 am. Every time people approached Al-Alam roundabout, they were fired upon,' she told AFP. 'But people didn't care and rushed forward all at once -- that's when the army began firing heavily.' - 'Unacceptable' - Mohammed al-Shaer, 44, said the crowd had just set off towards the aid centre when 'suddenly, the Israeli army fired shots into the air, then began shooting directly at the people'. 'A helicopter and quadcopters (drones) started firing at the crowd to prevent them from approaching the tank barrier. There were injuries and deaths,' he told AFP. 'I didn't reach the centre, and we didn't get any food.' The army maintained it was 'not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites'. GHF said the operations at its site went ahead safely on Tuesday, but added it was aware the military was 'investigating whether a number of civilians were injured after moving beyond the designated safe corridor'. 'This was an area well beyond our secure distribution site and operations area,' it added, advising 'all civilians to remain in the safe corridor when travelling to our distribution sites'. The shooting on Sunday had also taken place at the Al-Alam roundabout as people congregated before heading to the aid centre, rescuers and witnesses said. The civil defence agency reported 31 people killed and 176 wounded. Afterwards, the army denied firing at people 'while they were near or within' the aid centre. But a military source acknowledged 'warning shots were fired towards several suspects' about a kilometre from the site. UN chief Antonio Guterres urged an independent investigation into that shooting, calling it 'unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food'. 'Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable,' UN human rights chief Volker Turk said after Tuesday's deaths. 'Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.' - Soldiers killed - Israel has come under mounting pressure to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where people are facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after Israel imposed a more than two-month blockade on supplies. The blockade was recently eased, but the aid community has urged Israel to allow in more food, faster. The US-backed GHF has recently opened a handful of aid distribution centres in southern and central Gaza, and says it has distributed more than seven million meals' worth of food. Israel has recently stepped up its offensive in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war. The Israeli army said Tuesday that three of its soldiers had been killed during combat in northern Gaza, bringing the number of Israeli troops killed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the conflict to 424. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 4,201 people have been killed in the territory since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 54,470, mostly civilians. Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
UN says ‘deadly attacks' around Gaza aid sites ‘a war crime'
GENEVA: UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that 'deadly attacks' on civilians around aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip constituted 'a war crime'. Rescuers in the Palestinian territory said Israeli fire targeting civilians near an aid distribution centre in the southern city of Rafah killed 27 people on Tuesday, raising an earlier toll. It came after a similar incident on Sunday when rescuers said 31 people were killed at the same location, witnesses saying they had been on their way to collect aid. 'Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable,' Turk said in a statement. 'For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured.' The US-backed GHF is a recently formed group that Israel has cooperated with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. The United Nations does not work with the foundation because of concerns that it does not meet core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Turk called for a prompt and impartial investigation into each attack, and for those responsible to be held to account. 'Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime,' he said. 'Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism. 'This militarised system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned.'
