RSSHUE, Vietnam (UCAN) — Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, who is serving an eight-year prison sentence, has been taken to a Church-run home for medical treatment.
A priest from the Hue Archbishop’s residence told UCA News today that an ambulance took Father Ly from Ba Sao camp in the northern Ha Nam province to a home for retired priests at 5 p.m. on March 15.
The home is located in the compound of the archbishop’s residence.
Auxiliary Bishop Francis Xavier Le Van Hong of Hue and some priests warmly welcomed the jailed priest, who is from the archdiocese, he added.
The priest, who requested anonymity, said archdiocesan officials were informed of Father Ly’s release the previous day.
He said at the request of Father Ly’s relatives, “prison officials allowed him to temporarily stop serving his sentence to get medical treatment at the home for retired priests for one year.”
Father Ly, 63, had already served three years in prison, he noted.
He said Father Ly had three strokes, which partially paralyzed his right leg and arm. The jailed priest has to use crutches and has difficulty eating and writing, he added.
Father Ly, who was ordained in 1974, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in December 1983 for allegedly undermining national unity and causing public disorder. In 2001, he was sentenced to 15 years’ jail for allegedly disseminating anti-government propaganda.
He was released from prison in February 2005 but remained under house arrest in the Hue archbishop’s residence.
He was arrested again on Feb. 18, 2007, and sentenced to eight years in March of that year for anti-government activities after he allegedly helped organize a pro-democracy party.
He has been serving his sentence at Ba Sao camp since 2007.
VT09131.1593 March 16, 2010 28 EM-lines (286 words)
Jailed priest suffers 2nd stroke
Priests visit jailed confrere
Hue clergy asked to pray for health of jailed priest
Share
Twitter