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In 2005 alone, the Religious Publishing House licensed 450 Bible titles (with more than one million copies) and 60 other titles. During the first six months of 2006, the Religious Publishing House printed 130 religious titles.
Humanitarian activities of religious organizations are encouraged and have been effective. Religious organizations have participated actively in social affairs, including health care and education, and in humanitarian activities and movements to build up a cultured lifestyle in residential areas. They have also been very active in raising funds to support victims of natural disasters and to build houses for people in need. In addition, religious organizations, senior religious clergy, and members of religious orders have played an important part in providing free health check-ups and treatment. They have also taken care of people with disabilities, orphaned children, the elderly, leprosy patients, and AIDS patients in the final stages of the disease... These efforts have helped to reduce difficulties and relieve the pain of tens of thousands of people.
Local governments have facilitated the upgrading, restoration, and new construction of places of religious worship as stipulated by the law. As a result, many pagodas, churches, monasteries, and mosques were upgraded or built during the past year. In particular, branches of the Confederation of Evangelical Churches (Southern Church) in the Central Highlands have received land for churches, while others are under consideration for land allotment. In 2005, 242 places of worship were built, while 320 others were repaired or upgraded.
Along with recognized religious organizations, some other religious associations that have recently formed or have recently arrived in Vietnam have been permitted to conduct regular religious activities in places of worship or in assembly points. The Government Committee for Religious Affairs is collaborating with local authorities on guidelines for these new Protestant denominations and other religions that are in the process of registering their activities so that they can be recognized in accordance with provisions of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion.
Two years after the issuance of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion, especially after the Prime Minister’s Instruction (“Some Tasks Related to Protestantism”), religious activities of Protestant followers in the Central Highlands have received due attention and their rights have been guaranteed according to provisions of the law. As a result, 718 religious groups have registered, and 67 religious chapters have been recognized and are engaged in regular activities. Also, 71 pastors and newly-appointed pastors have been recognized. Some religious chapters have built places of worship.
In the Northern Highlands of Vietnam, local governments have created favorable conditions for Protestants to practice their religion at home and have developed guidelines for religious assembly groups to register their activities with local authorities. Until now, the first step has been implemented with registration of religious activities for Protestant followers belonging to 27 assembly groups in nine provinces, all with good results. This is a necessary step to avoid possible contradictions and complications in families and clans that might negatively affect the stable life of ordinary people. Results secured in the provinces mentioned above and in other highland localities of northern Vietnam have guided and will continue to guide religious people and assemply groups to register their religious activities in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Instruction.
5. Vietnamese Religions and Vietnam’s National History
During the entire course of Vietnam’s history, especially during the two protracted and heroic Wars of Resistance Against Foreign rule and aggression in general, patriotic followers of various religions contributed in remarkable ways to Vietnam’s revolution for independence and unification of the Homeland. Since reunification, religious followers have continued the work of national development under the motto, "For better secular and religious life".
Reviewing the country’s history during the struggle to protect the Homeland and during the times of peace, one can affirm: Followers of different religions have significantly contributed to the struggle for independence and unity of the entire Homeland. Many religious followers achieved important feats and are regarded as good examples for future generations. Religious people constitute an integral part of the Vietnamese community and have actively contributed to implementation of Vietnam’s policy of great national unity as well as to the cause of Reform, Renewal in order to bring about greater prosperity and happiness to the nation and people.
Religious organizations are among the forces that responded to and supported the movement of patriotic emulation from the beginning. They proposed specific action plans and issued appeals, public letters, and announcements to mobilize senior religious leaders, members of religious orders, and followers to join.
During recent years, thousands of religious households have achieved good results in hunger eradication, poverty reduction, economic development, and implementation of cultural and economic development policies in the course of building sound and strong localities. During the past five years, over three million registered religious households from across the country have engaged in agricultural production; over two million of these households have been recognized at the local level as successful in farming production and small business, with many organizations and individuals recognized as outstanding. Religious followers have restored many traditional craft villages, creating wares of high quality and jobs for tens of thousands. They have carried out various credit programs focusing on the poor and have helped many poor families overcome poverty.
People across the country unite in promoting their long-standing ethical tradition, “Repay a kindness” and “When drinking water, remember its source",. Religious followers always show readiness to take part in charitable social work, in disaster relief operation. Many clerics have made oustanding contribution to such movements as: “Open the Golden Book of Piety” and “Build Houses of Gratitude, Houses of Compassion, Houses of Great Unity, and Gardens of Gratitude” to care for heroic mothers who lost their children during the war. They have contributed freely from their own assets to help poor children, orphans, and the elderly without support. Many care centers belong to religious organizations. There, senior religious leaders and monks and nuns are not afraid of hardship or of the danger of catching diseases. They voluntarily devote their efforts and money to care for patients with HIV/AIDS, leprosy, infectious diseases, and dermatological ailments. They are especially attentive to poor patients. Many Catholic churches and Buddhist pagodas have been active in raising orphans and caring for hundreds of AIDS patients who are in the disease’s final stages and who have no family support.
The Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha, the Cao đài Church, the Hòa Hảo Buddhist Congregation, and other religious organizations have established hundreds of medical clinics to provide free services for the poor. They contribute tens of billions of VND each year to support victims of natural disasters and hundreds of billions of VND to other social and humanitarian activities, including: Support for improvement of production; construction of bridges and roads to ease transportation difficulties for people in remote areas; support for patients with mental illness; care centers for lonely elders and orphans; and humanitarian blood donation.
These humanitarian activities, which are effective and appreciated, have arisen from the movement, “Repay a kindness", which in itself arose from the nation’s tradition of unity, affection, and mutual assistance with a spirit of “The intact leaf shields the torn one” and which also arose from the noble tenets of various beliefs and religions.
Religious followers have responded to the movement, “Develop Cultured Lifestyles in Residential Areas", and have often received titles such as “A Cultured Religious Establishment” and “A Cultured Family". Many Buddhist religious organizations have programs and concrete plans for response and participation similar to the movement to establish “Outstanding Pagodas” or “Cultured Pagodas” among the Buddhists. Catholics in many localities have interesting initiatives and have set up content and specific standards allied with their religious principles and lifestyle as they encourage religious families to achieve the title “Outstanding Parish” or “Model Catholic Family".
“Cultured Villages” and “Cultured Streets” have emerged in many provinces and cities across the country with features of a principled lifestyle and harmonious life and with many models showing initiative in the movement to build a new countryside and a new personal outlook. Numerous residential areas in regions with many religious followers have become good examples in the fight against crime, drugs, and other social ills in the effort to retain and maintain social order and provide personal safety. Religious leaders and followers of religions have actively opposed social ills through use of their religious teachings, tenets, creeds, and moral lifestyles.
Many models for production and social work have arisen from the emulation movements, leading to the contribution of both labor and property to the development of localities and the country at large. Previously, some residential areas with religious followers had limited access to education, family planning, and public health services. There have since been many changes, so that areas with many religious believers show a low incidence of social ills.
Unity to expand democracy and implement the Regulations on Grassroots Democracy have created an atmosphere of enthusiasm and confidence among the people in general and particularly in areas with many religious followers. The process of expanding implementation of the Regulations has created more trust among religious followers in the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in the process of Renewal, and in the role of citizens as masters of the country. Citizens have seen more clearly their rights and responsibilities in building and protecting local administrations that are transparent, sustainable, and truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. Such local administrations should contribute to effective implementation of the movement, “All the people unite to build residential areas with cultured lifestyles” while realizing socio-economic goals and the duties of public security and national defense in building and protecting the Homeland so that Vietnam can become stronger and more prosperous.
CHAPTER 3
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF VIETNAMESE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
1. State Policies and the International Relations of Vietnamese Religious Organizations
The Constitution and various laws, decrees, and resolutions of the State have clearly addressed the international relations of religious organizations, followers, and religious leaders as well as regarding the humanitarian activities of foreign religious organizations.
Article 3 of Order 234/SL dated 14 June 1955 stipulated: “Foreigners who are members of religious orders and who receive permission from the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam may preach, just like Vietnamese members of religious orders; they must abide by the laws of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, just like other foreigners". Article 6 of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion affirms the policy of the State of Vietnam: “Relations between the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and other States and international organizations regarding matters related to religion must be based on the principles of: Respect for each other’s independence and sovereignty; non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; equality; mutual benefit; conformity with each other’s laws; and conformity with international law and practice".
The State of Vietnam recognizes the need of foreigners in Vietnam to engage in their own activities of belief and religion while in Vietnam and helps them have peace of mind for their work, study, cooperation, and investment in Vietnam. In particular, there is a realistic effort to implement both appropriate religious policies and the State’s foreign policy of openness in the context of Reform and Renewal and international integration, with this spirit: Vietnam is ready to be a friend and reliable partner with countries in the international community, striving for peace, independence, and development.
2. International Relations of Vietnamese Religious Organizations
Vietnamese religious organizations, at various levels, all have certain international relations. Foreign affairs of religious organizations include: Exchanging delegations with foreign organizations; sending clerics and followers abroad to study; participating in conferences and workshops; joining international and regional religious conferences; hosting foreign religious delegations; and hosting international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), many of which are faith-based INGOs implementing humanitarian projects in Vietnam. Articles 34, 35, 36 and 37 of Chapter V, “International Relations of Religious Organizations, Followers, Religious, and Dignitaries", in the Ordinance on Belief and Religion state clearly the regulations related to international activities of religions, including the sending of people to take part in religious training overseas and preaching activities in Vietnam by foreign religious leaders and foreign members of religious orders.
In the course of Reform and Renewal, the international activities of religious organizations have grown and diversified, covering most localities and social sectors. Some activities have been solely religious, such as visits and participation in workshops and international and regional conferences on religious doctrine, rites, regulations, and religious lifestyles... In addition, some religious organizations have also taken part in social activities, have sponsored voluntary humanitarian and cultural work, and have provided direct assistance to those in need.
Most religious organizations in Vietnam have established relations with organizations in other countries:
Buddhism: During the process of Buddhism’s penetration and development, Buddhist followers in Vietnam established relations and exchanges with Buddhists in other countries and territories, including China, India, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, France, Japan, the U.S, and Russia...
Vietnamese Buddhist groups, at various levels have taken part in regional and international activities of international organizations, including the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) and the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB). The Vietnamese Buddhist groups have relations with and have organized exchanges with the Buddhist Association of China, the Buddhist Association of the former Soviet Union, the World Buddhist Conference (WBC), and other international groups.
Catholicism: The Vietnamese Catholic Church has spiritual communication with the Vatican and has close relations with the Catholic Associations of France, the United States, the European Union, the Philippines, and South Korea. The Vietnamese Council of Bishops is a member of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC). Many Vietnamese priests have been trained in Italy, France, and the Philippines. Every year, the Vietnamese Catholic Church sends bishops to Rome and to other countries to participate in religious activities organized by the Vatican or by other religious organizations.
Protestantism: Presently, Vietnam has two Protestant organizations, the Vietnamese Confederation of Evangelical Churches (Northern Church) and the Vietnamese General Confederation of Evangelical Churches (Southern Church) as well as some other Protestant denominations. Protestant groups in Vietnam have relations with their peers in the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, and Northern Europe.
Recently, a delegation of the Baptist World Alliance headed by Chairperson David Coffey and including pastors from the United States, Great Britain, and India paid a working visit to the Baptist Grace Religious Association of Hồ Chí Minh City and had very open exchanges with the Association and with other Protestant denominations that are in the process of registering with Vietnamese authorities.
Islam: The Islamic community in Vietnam has on-going and diverse relations with Islamic communities in Southeast Asia, and particularly with Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, with Islamic communities in Saudi Arabia and with the World Union of Islamic Organizations.
Cao đài religion: Although Cao đài is a domestic religion, it has recently established relations with some foreign religious organizations, such as Omoto "the Brothers and Love for World Community" of Japan (since 1935), and overseas Cao đài organizations.
Hòa Hảo Buddhism: Since Hòa Hảo Buddhism is a domestic religion, it does not have a system of international organizations like the other religions listed above. However, after the reunification of the country in 1975, some followers of Hòa Hảo Buddhism went to live abroad and have kept regular contact with followers in Vietnam.
Nowadays, many individuals and representatives of religious organizations visit Vietnam at the invitation of individuals and religious organizations inside the country. These delegations have not only worked with religious organizations but also met with representatives of the Government, with related Government agencies, and with local authorities to discuss issues of common concern. Among the most important groups are Vatican delegations, which come to Vietnam annually to discuss with the Government of Vietnam issues related to the Vietnamese Catholic Church in an effort to improve mutual understanding. Other important delegations include: The special envoys of the United Nations writing reports on freedom of belief and religion; the U.S. President’s special envoys on international religious freedom; delegations from the Office of American Religious Freedom; delegations from the Council of American Religious Freedom; and parliamentarians from Europe,..
During the last several years, religious organizations in Vietnam have taken part in many international and regional conferences organized by foreign religious organizations and by international organizations. In August 2000, a delegation of religious leaders from Vietnam participated in “The Millennium Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders” in the United States. Vietnamese delegates to the summit helped international friends better understand the policies of the State of Vietnam regarding religious issues.
From 9 to 20 May 2002 and from 8 to 18 June 2004, delegations of representatives of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and senior leaders of the Buddhist, Protestant, and Catholic movements visited the United States to discuss religious issues in Vietnam with concerned partners, in particular, with American politicians, leaders of the United Methodists Association, the American Protestant Association, the World Council of Churches, and with journalists in Washington, D.C. The visits were successful, left a favorable impression among American colleagues, and opened a new period of religious dialogue and mutual understanding between the two countries.
Other delegations of religious leaders have traveled to Bali (Indonesia), Cebu (the Philippines), and Cyprus for dialogues on human rights to expand cooperation and harmony among religious groups.
These dialogues between religious leaders have created good opportunities for Vietnamese religious leaders to describe clearly Vietnam’s religious policies and their increased guarantees, and they have given them the chance to share experiences and lessons regarding knowledge and practice in their religions.
The international relations of religious organizations are growing and becoming more diverse. International exchanges between religious leaders are an indispensable need and an international practice. International relations of religious organizations in Vietnam are in line with this trend both with the view of meeting demands of religious associations and of harmonizing the common interests of the society and the country.
The Delegation of Vietnamese religious dignitaries who visited the United States in June 2004.
In general, the international relations of Vietnamese religious organizations are purely religion-based. However, some international relations conducted by religious organizations have been influenced by unfriendly forces consistently looking for ways to take advantage of and undermine Vietnam’s Reform and Renewal. Some people still keep disseminating erroneous information and untruthful stories about the situation of religion in Vietnam, including distortions of the State’s policies on religion and through international organizations, these individuals have put pressure on the Government and National Assembly of Vietnam with the aim of restricting Vietnam's foreign relations with other countries. Some individuals within the country have used the mantle of “religious freedom” to realize their own ambitions, to undermine social stability and national unity. Some individuals and organizations outside the country have taken advantage of these individuals for their own purposes to oppose and attack Vietnam and Vietnam’s international relations. However, since religious policies in Vietnam are open and transparent, the majority of individuals and international organizations have acknowledged that the State of Vietnam consistently guarantees its people’s right to freedom of belief and religion.
Recently, international activities of Vietnamese religious organizations have achieved remarkable results. They have not only helped religious organizations in Vietnam maintain normal relations and exchanges with regional and international religious organizations but have also reflected Vietnam’s policy of openness, which promotes people-to-people relations in order to contribute to the country’s construction and renewal. International affairs and relations of religious organizations in Vietnam have also helped clarify Vietnam’s policies on freedom of belief and religion and have mobilized material and spiritual assistance from the international community for the country’s construction and development.
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The State of Vietnam affirms the right to follow or not to follow a belief, religion, as has been clearly stipulated in the law and guaranteed in practice. Each citizen is free to choose a belief or religion to follow, or not to follow any religion. Religious groups are free to operate in accordance with the laws of Vietnam provided their activities do not negatively affect community life, social unity, national security, or social order. Foreign visitors to Vietnam can easily see that followers practice religion freely and that large numbers of people take part in religious festivals and activities at religious establishments. This is clear evidence of Vietnam’s policies of respect for the freedom of belief and religion.
Through successive drafts and improvements, Vietnamese legislation is providing better guarantee for people’s right to freedom of belief and religion. The State of Vietnam constantly reviews, supplements, and systematically improves higher-level legal documents in order to guarantee that religious followers can operate in accordance with their religious philosophy, goals, dogmas, charters, and regulations. These legal documents conform to provisions on religious freedom in the International Conventions that Vietnam has signed or acceded to.