A Catholic diocese in Vietnam has warned the public against fraudulent donation appeals that appeared after a fire severely damaged Áng Sơn Parish Church on Aug. 20.
The Diocese of Phát Diệm said fake accounts and information pages began soliciting financial assistance for the parish shortly after the fire.
“The parish priest of Áng Sơn and the Áng Sơn Parish community have not made any appeal for donations or financial contributions in any form,” the diocesan communications office said.
It urged Catholics and the public to be cautious of pages, personal accounts or organizations impersonating Áng Sơn Parish, the Phát Diệm bishop’s office or priests to solicit money or donations.
The diocese said official information about the fire, pastoral announcements and any further instructions would be released only through its official communications channels.
The fire broke out on the evening of Aug. 20 at Áng Sơn Parish in Ninh Bình province.
Initial findings indicated that the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit in the wooden roof of the church, according to the diocese. The fire caused serious damage to the building.
Fire and rescue personnel, provincial authorities and parishioners worked together to bring the blaze under control and extinguish it. No casualties were reported.
Bishop Peter Kiều Công Tùng, who was celebrating a confirmation Mass at Đại Áng Parish that evening, went to the scene to visit and console the Áng Sơn parish community, the diocese said.
On the afternoon of Aug. 21, the diocesan vicar general, chancellor, and dean of Ninh Bình also visited the parish to meet the parish priest and community and assess the damage and their immediate needs.
The diocese said the priests were to concelebrate Mass at 5 p.m. that day to pray for the Áng Sơn community.
It asked Catholics to continue praying for the parish priest and community as they recover from the fire “in faith, trust and the communion of the whole People of God.”
