Religious Restrictions Lessen in Vietnam

The reforms of the Vietnamese Government of the 1990’s have led to a gradual opening up in Vietnam. This has led to the lessening of restrictions on the Vietnamese Catholic community, which is the second largest in South-East Asia (approximately 5-7 followers most of whom live in the south of the country).

|TOP|In 1975 following the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule, many restrictions were placed upon the Catholic Church, as it was regarded as a foreign influence.

Church services were cancelled, many seminaries were emptied of their trainees and a number of church leaders were sent to Labour camps. The result was a shortage of priests in the country, a situation which left many parishes without a minister to deliver Mass.

The situation in Vietnam is now changing, seminaries now have students again, priests are now free to travel and study overseas and there has been an increase in the number of churches being built.

According to the priest at Phat Diem, Father Peter Phuc, the situation for Vietnamese Catholics has much improved: "In the 1980s, we had a shortage of priests. We felt isolated here. Now I see development; we're building up again."

In December of last year Father Phuc visited Rome for the first time, along with nine other priests from his diocese. However he did not visit the Vatican due to its fragile relationship with Vietnam. The Vietnamese Government does not have diplomatic relations with the Vatican, nor does it accept its power to appoint the clergy.

|AD|Relations between the Vatican and Vietnam do seem to be improving however. A senior Vatican emissary was invited to Vietnam last November. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe led the ordination service of 57 new priests in a full Hanoi Cathedral. While there the Cardinal met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Vu Khoan.

There has been speculation that the visit could well be the first step towards a visit by Pope Benedict XVI. His predecessor John-Paul II attempted to make such a visit himself, but was unable to.

The secretary of the Vietnam Bishop’s Council, Reverend Joseph Dang said of the situation: "Until now, I hadn't dared to dream of this... But there are still many steps to take before any (papal) visit."

Although the situation seems to have improved for Catholics in Vietnam, human rights groups claim that other denominations and religions continue to face discrimination.

The US Government has claimed that Vietnam systematically violates religious freedom, especially in ethnic-minority highland areas. They claim there has been the imprisoning of religious clergy, among them leaders of minority-based Protestant churches and the elderly leaders of a Buddhist sect, which has been banned.

Officials in Vietnam have denied that discrimination takes place, saying that laws have been updated in order to prevent the coercion of religious followers.

Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet, a member of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs said that: "Vietnamese citizens have the freedom to choose their religion. All religions are equal under the law."

It seems that ordinary Catholics feel free to worship in Vietnam. The BBC spoke to one anonymous young man working on Church refurbishment.

The man said: "I don't think there's any discrimination from the government." The young man also expressed his desire to become a priest one day.
Church leaders in Vietnam have said that the Government has recognised the role religion can play in social development.

Ms Nguyen said that: "It's quite common that religious followers are also Party members,"

The easing of religious restriction has seen the growth in the church in Vietnam, more churches are being built and there are more priests to give mass.

The reverend Phuc spoke of growth of the Church saying: "In the past 10 years, almost every year a new church is built. I can't keep track."

In one church the congregation acquired a full-time priest only in 2004. Before that priests would often have to cycle between parishes in order to give the church services.

A BBC reporter spoke to one of the churches attendants, an 89-year-old retired farmer. She spoke of how she spent her afternoons at the church: "I come here and I read my bible. Then I go home."