Vietnamese government plans to confiscate Church property

Asia News reports that the Vietnamese government is planning to confiscate land in Hanoi belonging to the Redemptorists:

Hanoi authorities have opened a new battle front with Catholics with an expropriation order issued by the Department for Urbanism and lease of land owned by the Redemptorists of Thai Ha parish, near lake Ba Giang.  The priests, religious and faithful say the measure is "illegal" and constitutes a "violation" of the rights of the Christian community, as explained in a letter published in recent days by the superior Fr . Matthew Vu Khoi Phun.

 The land desired by the government has belonged to the Redemptorists since 1928.