VINH, Vietnam - Hundreds of Catholics in the diocese of Vinh  in Vietnam were recently attacked by police as they began building an altar and putting up a cross in the grounds of a church that was bombed during the Vietnam War. The church of Tam Toa was inaugurated in 1887 and considered to be one of the most beautiful churches in Vietnam. The parish traces its origins back to 1631 in early years of the Church in Vietnam.

On 2 February this year, despite threats from the government, Bishop Cao Dinh Thuyen, 14 priests of the diocese  and thousands of parishioners, (250 miles South of Hanoi), celebrated Mass at the church.