Vietnamese Church Under Criminal Investigation for Alleged Role in Infection Outbreak

In Vietnam, a church congregation’s failure to adhere to isolation protocols contributed to a significant outbreak of infection, prompting a criminal investigation by the police and potential loss of its license. The Revival Gospel Church, located in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, has become a focal point of public and official scrutiny. The church, established 30 years ago, is accused of facilitating community transmission after Wu Xuanlan, the mother of the pastor, returned from Hanoi with symptoms, congregants gathered without masks, and confirmed cases concealed their illness.

Health authorities implemented a two-week isolation measure in April, screening 13 million citizens. The Revival Church is identified as the source of a cluster infection. On May 30, the police announced a criminal investigation into the church’s role in the outbreak. The situation has escalated, with public anger directed at the church, and relevant departments considering the revocation of its license.

Wu Xuanlan denies the health officials’ claims, asserting she became infected after returning from Hanoi and that the church was not the source of the cluster infection. She claims to have required congregants to wear masks and distributed 2,000 donated masks to congregants and community residents. External parties have raised questions about whether the authorities are using this incident to suppress religious freedom.

Vu Chien Thang, deputy minister of the Vietnamese Interior Ministry, stated that over 200 confirmed cases in Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces are linked to the Revival Church. The church is registered as an organization, not a religious organization, and its leaders claim to be pastors, which the ministry argues is misleading. This enforcement is based on Article 240 of the Vietnamese Criminal Code, which does not pertain to religious organizations, venues, activities, or clergy.

The case highlights tensions between public health measures and institutional accountability. The church’s registration status and leadership claims have become central to the legal and administrative proceedings. As the investigation continues, the broader implications for religious organizations and public trust remain under scrutiny.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)