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What is Pope Benedict doing about Vietnam's arrest and
kangaroo-court conviction of Roman Catholic priest Father Ly?
Father Ly was sentenced in 2007 to 5 years in prison without legal
representation for conspiracy against the government for speaking
his mind in a peaceful and non-threatening manner. Vietnam requires
churches of all faiths to register and submit sermons for
pre-approval before they can be "lawfully" delivered. 
The laws are so restrictive that families are not allowed to pray in
their own homes with friends or relatives. That is also considered
a treasonous act against the state.
The communist government’s genocide against the Christian Montagnard
community, who supported the United States during the Vietnam War,
has reduced from a population of 1.5 million in 1975 to less than
750,000 today.
All religions have suffered severe religious persecution at the
hands of this brutal communist regime. John McCain was instrumental
in normalizing relations with Vietnam in 1995 when he convinced
Republicans in Congress to put the war behind them giving President
Clinton and John Kerry the cover they needed. Subsequently, that
resulted in World Trade Organization status last year giving
McCain’s communist friends everything they ever wanted.
Instead of improving human rights and religious freedoms they went
the other direction which resulted in the worst crackdown in 20
years according to Amnesty International. Unfortunately, John
McCain has been communist Vietnam’s best friend voting in their
best interest for over 20 years as a Congressman and Senator.
John McCain, the self-proclaimed "straight-talking maverick" should
use his special relations with his Hanoi friends to secure the
release of Father Ly and the many other religious leaders of all
faiths imprisoned for exercising their God given right to worship in
peace.
Jerry Kiley
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