Viet Nam may return Church land

Viet Nam's government has signaled that it may return Church land seized in the 1950s, Agence France-Presse reported Monday. Catholics have been holding prayer vigils since mid-December, with protests reaching their peak last week when thousands attended a rally coinciding with Cardinal Pham Dinh Tung's 90th birthday.

According to one priest, the Vatican has asked the Catholics to leave the land and try to find a compromise. “During a meeting with the deputy minister of public security (Nguyen Van Huong), they have promised to give us back the land,” he said, “But when and how is the problem. We have nothing written.”

Although there has been some dialogue with Catholic groups in recent years, all religious activity officially remains under state control in Viet Nam.

For the full article, click here.