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Article: Hanoi Catholics protest on despite ultimatum.(IN THE BEGINNING)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- February 8, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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HANOI, Vietnam -- As many as 3,000 Catholics defied local government orders to disperse and continued a protest outside the compound of the Vatican's embassy, which was confiscated by the communist government in 1959. Catholics began the protests in mid-December after they learned of plans to build a restaurant and nightclub on the site.
Archbishop of Hanoi Joseph Ngo Quang Kilt has asked the government to return the property to the church. The garden on the site holds a cross and some statues, including one of Mary.
The building and its grounds, called the Apostolic Nunciature, are next to St Joseph's Cathedral in the tourist heart of Hanoi. Since Dec. ...