A CATHOLIC bishop is investigating reports that a recently ordained Vietnamese priest is a convicted criminal and a fraud.

Some Vietnamese Catholics took their outrage to social media upon learning that Ho Huu Hoa was ordained as a priest in the Philippines. They alleged he was convicted of bribing a Vietnamese police official and could not have undergone seminary training to qualify as a priest.

Southern Leyte Bishop Precioso Cantillas confirmed he had ordained Father John Baptist Ho Huu Hoa last December 7, 2022. 

This scandal, he lamented, is “truly unfortunate and upsetting.” But he assured the public that the Maasin Diocese is now taking steps to verify these allegations against Fr. Hoa.

Allegations from Vietnam

Radio Free Asia-Vietnam has reported that Catholic priests and lay people in Vinh City in north-central Vietnam were “alarmed” upon learning about the ordination of Hoa in Maasin City.

They described Hoa as a “fortune-teller.” Vietnamese media reports that in 2019, Hoa was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for brokering a bribery attempt of a former police intelligence colonel charged with espionage and illegal sale of lands.

“The laity is more concerned and worried when they heard about the case that Mr. Ho Huu Hoa became a priest because of who he is and how he became a priest. These are some unusual, even unusual things.

“Mr. Hoa used to be a fortune teller, which is taboo for a layman, let alone a priest,” Father Dinh Huu Thoai of the Redemptorist Order said, as quoted by Radio Free Asia-Vietnam.

Fr. Hoa was released from detention in Vietnam in November 2021. Nine months later, he was ordained as a priest in southern Philippines, which Vietnamese priests found unusual.

Canon Law requirements for priesthood

The Catholic Church is very meticulous when it comes to ordaining priests.

Under the Canon Law, a priest must be a graduate of a master’s degree in theology, which takes about eight years, including a bachelor’s degree.

A council from the diocese or a congregation will evaluate the candidate. 

The same is required for foreign candidates, who must submit evaluation and endorsement papers from their previous diocese.

Viral video

The Facebook video on the ordination of Hoa became viral in Vietnam, the news agency Union of Catholic Asian News reported. 

The video, posted on Maasin Diocese Facebook Page, has already been taken down but was reposted by Vietnamese netizens.

UCANews said the chancellor of Vinh diocese, Father Gerard Nguyen Nam Viet, was present at the ordination ceremony and testified for Hoa.

In a letter dated February 15, the Diocese of Vinh said it suspended Fr. Nam Viet.

Vinh Bishop disowns Fr. Hoa

Meanwhile, the bishop of the Vinh Diocese said he did not endorse Hoa to the Maasin Diocese. 

In a statement on February 10, Bishop Alfonse Nguyen Huu Long said he was “surprised” by Hoa’s ordination. 

According to UCANews, Bishop Long’s “dimissorial” letter was read during Hoa’s ordination. He said the letter “is completely fake,” adding that Hoa’s ordination is “under investigation.”

Bishops usually give dimissorial letters to his subjects in order that another bishop may ordain them.

Maasin Bishop: We followed Canon Law process

In a statement posted on social media, Maasin Bishop Cantillas said the ordination followed the proper procedures prescribed by the laws of the Catholic Church or the Canon Law.

“In good faith, we have ordained Rev. Fr. John Baptist “JB” Ho Huu Hoa to the Sacred Order of Deacons on 8 September 2022, and subsequently, was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on 7 December 2022, in the Diocese of Maasin for the Diocese of Vinh, Vietnam,” Cantillas said.

He maintained that the ordination “followed the usual canonical procedures.”

This includes the presentation of the Vinh bishop’s endorsement, complete with the bishop’s seal. 

Supporting documents, certifications and letters concerning the ordination “written and signed by reputable Vietnamese clerics responsible for Fr. John Baptist’s priestly formation” were also submitted.

The prelate said that among the letter-writers were the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Ha Tinh and former Bishop of the Diocese of Vinh, Paul Nguyen Thai Hop, O.P.

Bishop Cantillas also disclosed that Fr. Hoa has been “incardinated” or re-assigned to the Diocese of Maasin. However, the prelate did not reveal the reason for the request to be based in the local church in Leyte.

The request was granted after Fr. Hoa, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Vinh, and a Vietnamese deacon acting as translator asked for and was granted an audience with the bishop.

“After taking into consideration the gravity of the reason for the petition and its appropriateness, the required canonical procedure was conducted that eventually incardinated him on 15 January 2023 to the Diocese of Maasin,” Cantillas said.

‘Truly unfortunate, upsetting’

Bishop Cantillas said the controversy surrounding the Vietnamese priest is “truly unfortunate and upsetting.”

He assured the public that the issue had been submitted to the proper authorities for investigation.

“We are now taking the necessary steps and procedures which will hopefully aid all concerned to be enlightened, and so issues will be clarified,” Cantillas said.

“Also, we entrust the situation to the proper authority to decide on the veracity of the documents forwarded to our office,” he said. “May the Light of Christ direct our actions, so we may find the truth.”