News Bulletin series n. 1 – November 2009
Via Massimi 114/C, 00136 ROME, Italy

Words from the President

Dear friends,

With this issue we are launching the new edition of the SIT General Newsletter. You may ask, what is SIT? The acronym stands for: Solidarity International Trinitarian. This organization was created by the extraordinary general chapter of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, celebrated in Ariccia (Rome) in 1999. The new organization received special encouragement from Pope John Paul II during an audience granted to the Trinitarian Family in August of that year. The original goal was to express our solidarity with the most needy of our brothers and sisters, but the scope was too broad and as the saying goes, "He who wants a love, received nothing.” And so the general chapter of Moramanga (Madagascar 2007) was asked to give a clear direction to the organization. The Board of Directors, representing all branches of  SIT throughout the world, unanimously decided to focus its attention on aid to persecuted Christians or  those marginalized because of Christ, the Gospel and the Church. This choice was endorsed by the General Council.
But do persecution, discrimination or marginalization because of the faith still exist today after the fall of the great ideologies that have marked the last century? Yes, of course, and more than we think. As I write these few lines, over 200 million brothers and sisters live in difficult situations, sometimes intolerable. During his speech to the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See, Archbishop Migliore, pulled the alarm signal (speech of October 26, 2009).
Today, Christians are paying a heavy price for intolerance and discrimination, victims of an authentic "christophobia”. The source of this real persecution or violent twisting, are the Neros of modern times: the fanatical Hindus, Buddhists, Communists and Islamists.
These new persecutions are not isolated acts but are willed, planned and thought out. It is therefore essential to report to the public the truth concerning the anti-Christian “tsunami” which prohibits Cristians to simply practice their own faith in freedom. Can we still remain quiet?  
SIT has a threefold mission: to inform, denounce and support. To inform free Christians as we cannot forget these brothers and sisters of the catacombs. To denounce before national authorities those international violations of Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To support those persecuted through prayer and practical support.
Various regional offices of SIT have their own newsletter, such as Spain, India and the USA, and support various works on behalf of persecuted Christians. This newsletter does not compete but is an additional source for information and discussion and, I would even say, communion.
I would like to take advantage of the proximity of the Nativity of Our Lord, to extend to you my best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010. Let us remain united in prayer and in action for our brothers and sisters.
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, which we have just celebrated the 20th anniversary (1989-2009), communism was believed to be dead. Alas, it is not. It has certainly declined in many parts of the world but it is still rife in China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, Nepal and has surfaced in Venezuela and Bolivia in the form of nationalism.
On November 24, the Church of Vietnam will inaugurate a jubilee year to mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the first two dioceses in Vietnam (1659-2009). In this first issue of the new SIT Bulletin, we would like to provide some general information on the Church which continues to be the victim of violent persecution in several regions.

VIETNAM

Catholics represent 7.15% of the population and number 6,087,700 out of a population of 85,154,900 inhabitants (2007 statistics). The Catholic Church can count as it assets a strong group of dedicated and active laity. However, the numbers are down, at least statistically, compared to 7. 6% of the population in 1939. Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Holy See have been broken since the expulsion of the last Apostolic delegate in 1959. Yet, while some contacts have existed in recent year, they have not produced much success. Currently, the internal relations between the Socialist Republic and the Church are governed by the Ordinance on Religion, published by the Office of Worship June 18, 2004. Religious practice is severely controlled and only allowed in the home. Since 1975, following the closure of church schools and religious education, religious instruction has had to take place in private homes, although the new ordinance gives local authorities the ability to decide what is permitted within the context of the domestic church. Local officials rely on this text to restrict permissions and to prevent the mission of the Church by red tape, especially in the central highlands and northern mountains. Some people pay the price by being arrested and by being sent to reeducation camps. There are many other examples of red tape that is imposed on church properties. Very few examples are known by the general public such as  the outright seizure of a large parcel of land of the Benedictine monastery near An Thien Hue (2002) which was turned into a sports field, the refusal of planning permission to construct rooms for Catechism on the ground of the Cathedral of Phan Thiet (2003), or of the lengthy delay in granting permission  to establish a seminary near the national Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of La Vang (2007), the forfeiture of the former apostolic delegation (Case still ongoing), and most recently the destruction of the convent of the Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres in Vinh Long and turning the Catholic cemetery into a public place ... (November 2009). While some small positive steps have been taken, these have not been done in order to respect human rights but rather to restore the prestige of the Socialist Republic with foreign and international bodies. Yet, the Catholic Vietnamese have always shown their loyalty to their homeland even though they are often considered by local officials to be an "affront to national security." Thus, the situation of the Church and its relationship with civil authorities varies according to region and according to state officials on site. Religious freedom is indeed a great challenge for the government in Hanoi.
The opening of the jubilee year will have three great moments. The opening in Hanoi remembers that faith has been sown and was watered by the blood of martyrs. The General Assembly or Congress of the People of God will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on the church square and will reflect on the role of the Church in Vietnamese society and finally on the feast of the Epiphany 2011, the closing celebration will be held at the sanctuary of Our Lady of La Vang,  who has protected and supported the existence of the faith in Vietnam, and will seek to emphasize the mission of the faith and the proclamation of the Good News to everyone for the building of the Church of Christ in Vietnam, a Church that seeks communion and participation, this Church for Humanity, a Church of love and service. Undoubtedly this jubilee will show the unity and solidarity of the Catholic Church of Vietnam. Let us pray therefore during this jubilee year with our Vietnamese brothers and sisters that this dear wish of Cardinal Pham Minh Man, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Jubilee, may be realized. Let us pray that the Lord will grant a greater, a complete freedom for our brothers and sisters who want to live their faith in their country.

FLASH

INDIA. – ORISSA
With your help, SIT has been able to collect € 27,706,53 and US$ 1,200.00 for the reconstruction of houses and chapels for Christians in India. We thank you in their name with all our heart for this concrete gesture of solidarity.

PAKISTAN. - ISLAMABAD
An international campaign was organized to pressure the National Assembly to abolish the law of blasphemy. Only in countries where the law is implemented, it  is often used against Christians, accusing them of blasphemy against Allah and his prophet Muhammad. We encourage you to write a letter asking for the abolition of the law and address them to various Pakistani embassies.

INDIA. - ORISSA
The lawsuit against the organizers of the anti-Christian program in the summer of 2008 has begun. Of the 900 cases recorded, only 30 were tried by competent courts. 115 persons were acquitted and 27 were convicted. Witnesses live under the threat of retaliation.

INDIA.
The political representative of the BJP(the Hindu fundamentalist party), Rajnath Singh, has publicly declared that "India recorded mass conversions and this threatens the country's internal security." Pray for peace and coexistence of different religions in India.

EAEC
The Court of Human Rights of the European Community headquarters in Strasbourg has ordered the removal of crucifixes from public schools, especially Italian. Should we also remove them from our streets, our museums and our towers so as not to offend our fellow Jews, Muslims or atheists?

IRAN - SAINT-SIEGE
Pope Benedict XVI recalled during the ceremony of presentation of credentials of new Iranian ambassador to the Holy See that freedom of religion and conscience is the foundation of other freedoms. He has demanded that Iran allow Christians to live their faith freely and have at their disposal the priests sufficient for their needs.

ISRAEL
To satisfy the fundamentalist party Shas, the Interior Ministry of Israel has refused visas to several priests and religious, despite the basic agreement signed between Israel and the Holy See in 1993. We are heading towards a new crisis visas.

INDONESIA. - JAVA
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. Catholics have appealed the decision of the local government which has refused permission to build a church dedicated to the Virgin. The court will have to make a decision.

Prayer for Persecuted Christians Father, in your mysterious providence, your Church must share in the sufferings of Christ your Son. Give the spirit of patience and love to those who are persecuted for their faith in you that they may always be true and faithful witnesses to your promise of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen

REFLECTION


Below is a reflection by Pope Benedict XVI on the topic of persecution which he gave during his apostolic visit to Prague last September 26. We can clearly see that this text is great news not only for the Czech Republic but for all countries where Christianity is prohibited or persecuted. This is a good meditation and reflection.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

[…] We are gathered this evening in a place that is dear to you, a place that is a visible sign of the power of divine grace acting in the hearts of believers. The beauty of this thousand-year-old church is indeed a living testimony to your people’s rich history of faith and Christian tradition: a history that is illuminated in particular by the faithfulness of those who sealed their adherence to Christ and to the Church by martyrdom. I am thinking of Saint Wenceslaus, Saint Adalbert and Saint John Nepomuk, milestones in your Church’s history, to whom we may add the example of the young Saint Vitus, who preferred to die a martyr’s death rather than betray Christ, and the examples of the monk Saint Procopius and Saint Ludmila. From the twentieth century, I recall the experiences of two Archbishops of this local Church, Cardinals Josef Beran and Frantisek Tomásek, and of many Bishops, priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful, who resisted Communist persecution with heroic fortitude, even to the sacrifice of their lives. Where did these courageous friends of Christ find their strength if not from the Gospel? Indeed, they were captivated by Jesus who said: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24). In the hour of trial they heard another saying of Jesus resounding deep within them: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (Jn 15:20).
The heroism of these witnesses to the faith reminds us that only through personal intimacy and a profound bond with Christ is it possible to draw the spiritual vitality needed to live the Christian vocation to the full. Only the love of Christ can make the apostolate effective, especially in moments of difficulty and trial. Love for Christ and for one’s fellow men and women must be the hallmark of every Christian and every community. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that “the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (4:32). […]
Twenty years ago, after the long winter of Communist dictatorship, your Christian communities began once more to express themselves freely, when, through the events triggered by the student demonstration of 17 November 1989, your people regained their freedom. Yet you are well aware that even today it is not easy to live and bear witness to the Gospel. Society continues to suffer from the wounds caused by atheist ideology, and it is often seduced by the modern mentality of hedonistic consumerism amid a dangerous crisis of human and religious values and a growing drift towards ethical and cultural relativism. In this context there is an urgent need for renewed effort throughout the Church so as to strengthen spiritual and moral values in present-day society. I know that your communities are already actively engaged on several fronts, especially in charitable work, carried out under the auspices of Caritas. Your pastoral activity in the field of educating new generations should be undertaken with particular zeal. Catholic schools should foster respect for the human person; attention should also be given to the pastoral care of young people outside the school environment, without neglecting other groups of the faithful. Christ is for everyone! I sincerely hope that there will be a growing accord with other institutions, both public and private. It is always worth repeating that the Church does not seek privileges, but only to be able to work freely in the service of all, in the spirit of the Gospel.[…]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, with gratitude to the Lord, we shall be marking a number of anniversaries this year: the 280th anniversary of the canonization of Saint John Nepomuk, the 80th anniversary of the dedication of Saint Vitus’ Cathedral, and the 20th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Agnes of Bohemia, the event which heralded your country’s deliverance from atheist oppression. All these are good reasons for persevering in the journey of faith with joy and enthusiasm, counting on the maternal intercession of Mary, Mother of God, and all your Patron Saints. Amen!