Civilian officials, with helmets on their heads, headed by the head of the local branch of the Communist Party, entered the altar where the Archbishop of Hanoi was presiding at Mass. at. 10:00 am, demanding that he immediately stop the liturgy and scatter the faithful.

The concelebrants and parishioners did everything in their power to protect the Archbishop and expelled the attackers from the church. After order was restored, Holy Mass could be resumed.

However, this act of intimidation left the local Catholic community dumbfounded. “This is the first time I have seen local officials come to the altar to interrupt Mass without even waiting for it to end, as they did in the past,” said former Redemptorist spokesman Fr. Nguyen Van Khai.

Source: pch24.pl