Did Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc fulfill his role as shepherd well?
(Baonghean.vn) - Witnessing Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc - parish priest of Song Ngoc (Quynh Luu) - inciting and encouraging Catholic parishioners in Song Ngoc to file complaints, it is clear that this action is inconsistent with the role and duties of a priest.
"The shamelessness of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuc"
"Did Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuc push parishioners towards violating the law?"
"Some extremist parishioners have committed acts that violate the law."
Christians, upon rereading certain provisions of the Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, will see: "Priests, as collaborators of the Bishops, have the primary duty of proclaiming the Gospel to all people." Every Catholic knows what proclaiming the Gospel means. It is the salvation of the Second Person of the Trinity, who was crucified for the sins of humanity. This Gospel must be proclaimed from the lips of the priest; it is charity and love, profound compassion for one's fellow human beings, selflessness, humility, and reverence. It is impossible to fully describe God's intentions in bestowing His love upon humanity.
Through the role of the priest, He desires: "Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven." Yet, we also see the actions of Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc as if God's kingdom has been distorted, warped, and no longer resembles what God has given us.
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| On February 14, 2017, Nguyen Dinh Thuc (pictured in the middle) incited parishioners to walk in a line, obstructing traffic on National Highway 1A. |
After the Lunar New Year of the Rooster, when everyone was preparing for their business ventures, farmers were getting ready to go to the fields and sow their spring seeds, young men and women were preparing for trips to work far away, and students were leaving their hometowns to go to the city to study... yet, simply because of the provocative words and actions of a shepherd, many of the flock had behaved in truly reprehensible ways.
We were deeply concerned and surprised that a priest would act in such a way, because Chapter 3 of the Priestly Life states, "After being consecrated by the Holy Spirit through anointing and sent forth by Christ, priests restrain the works of the flesh within themselves and devote themselves entirely to serving humanity; in this way, they can progress on the path of holiness which they have been adorned with in Christ, to become complete human beings."
"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc gave a false report."
"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc illegally preaches in Con Cuong."
I believe Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc cannot embellish his thoughts in the eyes of God with such ideas; instead, he should embellish them with "Obediently following the Holy Spirit of Christ." Christ is the way, the life. It is unacceptable for a priest to instruct his parishioners to leave their villages and hometowns to pursue legal action in a completely unrelated location.
All Vietnamese people in general, and the people of the central provinces in particular, know, and even the Pope and the Vatican agree with, the Vietnamese government's stance and efforts to address the marine environmental pollution caused by Formosa. The wrongdoing is clear, compensation for damages has been determined and is being addressed according to a plan, and the vast majority of those affected share the country's difficulties and are united in resolving the aftermath of Formosa.
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| Nguyen Dinh Thuc incited parishioners to neglect their duties and go to file complaints in the cold, rain-soaked weather. |
The issue here isn't something that happens overnight, but rather a long-term process. Everyone sees this; surely a priest understands? The most vivid evidence is the recent Lunar New Year (Year of the Rooster), where social welfare was prioritized, the poor and those in particularly difficult circumstances received attention, and many organizations, individuals, businesses, and agencies focused on helping the poor have a fulfilling New Year. Perhaps Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc should "sincerely and patiently carry out his duties in the spirit of Christ as a unique method to help priests pursue holiness."
Let's not let personal opinions negatively impact the community. Life and social issues are not perfect; an open country naturally faces both advantages and disadvantages. The Formosa issue has been thoroughly reviewed and addressed by the Party, the State, and various ministries and departments. Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc cannot use the excuse of "filing a complaint" to implicate people and violate the law.
Trusting that a few parishioners of Song Ngoc parish will eventually realize what is right and what is wrong, let us place our trust in the Party committee, the government, the various departments and organizations, and also in ourselves. Surely, our lives will be prosperous and our souls at peace when we know how to unite and work together to build our country and homeland.
Brothers and sisters in faith
