(VOVWORLD) - About 7 million Catholics in 4,500 parishes across Vietnam are celebrating a peaceful and merry Christmas with wishes and congratulations of local authorities, organizations, and the communities of other religions. Community sharing and caring for the most important celebration of the Catholics conveys a message of religious freedom in Vietnam.
 NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan congratulated the Hanoi Archdiocese, priests, bishops, and parishioners on Christmas. (photo: quochoi.vn) |
Leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, authorities at all levels, and followers of other religions congratulate parishioners on Christmas.
Caring and sharing
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visited the Hanoi Archdiocese to congratulate priests, bishops and parishioners a merry Christmas full of God’s grace. She also visited the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee to share the joy with all Vietnamese Catholics and spread the message of respecting religious freedom.
“The Vietnamese Party and State uphold consistent policies and orientations of respecting the freedom of belief and religion. The National Assembly has passed the Law on Belief and Religion, allowing religious organizations to practice in line with the Constitution and law. The authorities have helped repair and build worship facilities,” Mrs Ngan said.
Several days before Christmas, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh visited the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, the General Confederation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam in the South, Xuan Loc Diocese, and Tien Giang diocese to congratulate them on Christmas.
 Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh visited the Xuan Loc Diocese. |
The leaders of the Party Commission for Mass Mobilization, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, ministries, and localities nationwide have visited and congratulated dignitaries and parishioners.
Priest Tran Xuan Manh, Chairman of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, said: “We follow the Pope’s teaching that a good parishioner is a good citizen, which is in line with the motto of the Vietnam Catholics Solidarity Committee of consensus in serving the nation.”
Freedom of religion
The Law on Belief and Religion took effect two years ago. It has helped to improve religious practices and the relations of religious followers in society.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said: The Vietnam Catholic Church has successfully hosted international conferences. Vietnamese Catholics have engaged in charitable activities such as providing medical treatment and education to disadvantaged people.”
Vietnam and the Vatican Church have nurtured a good relationship. Vietnam recently agreed in principle to have a Vatican special envoy resident in Vietnam. Archbishop of Hanoi Vu Van Thien said: “When Pope Francis met Vietnamese leaders, he praised the Vietnamese state’s goodwill and care for the Catholic Church. The Vatican appreciates the Vietnamese state’s support and open policies for the Catholic Church. Besides good diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Vietnam, religious practice in Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular has improved significantly.”