In view of the emotion caused by the announcement of the demolition of Bui Chu Cathedral (Vietnam), judged to be dilapidated and dangerous, the project of demolition—and of reconstruction—planned to begin on May 13, 2019, was suspended in expectation of a new consultation between the different local actors.

As soon as it was announced, the diocese's decision to demolish and rebuild the religious building ran up against the opposition of public opinion, which hopes at any cost to preserve the place of worship dating back to 1885.

Bui Chu Cathedral is 118 km south of Hanoi. The building was built 134 years ago by the Spanish Bishop Wenceslao Onate Thuan. It is 78 meters long and 15 meters high; the two spiers rise to 35 meters.

Shortly after the announcement by the Diocese of Hanoi, 25 local architects sent an open letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Nguyen Ngọc Thien, and to the chairman of the People's Committee of the Nam Dinh province, Phạm Dinh Nghị. These professionals asked them to intervene and save the cathedral.

In their plea, the cathedral is defined as “an architectural, artistic, and cultural heritage to which our ancestors have devoted a great deal of work” and a work “unique to Vietnam.”

Indeed, the collective of architects say that the structure, “not only uses European architectural languages, but also combines elements, details, and materials from Vietnam to produce a unique work of art, which witnesses the exchange between East and West.”

These professionals finally claim to have inspected the structure and found it only slightly damaged and, after being reinforced, capable of enduring for a long time.

Nevertheless, a new survey carried out on May 7, 2019, by the Ministry of Culture, concluded that the church was seriously damaged. Many elements, such as the portal and the dome, have cracks, not to mention a tower that leans dangerously—also, during the rainy season, part of the roof collapsed.

A new meeting between the diocesan representatives and the architects must take place in order to compare the different positions. May this new consultation allow the faithful to quickly find a place of worship worthy of the name.

(Source : AsiaNews - FSSPX.Actualités – 05/15/2019)