State control of worship feared

Vietnamese bishops have warned high-ranking communist officials of their concerns over a new religion law that is to take effect next year, because it enshrines state control of religious worship, writes James Roberts.

In a formal statement, the bishops criticised the Law on Belief and Religion due to take effect on 1 January, because it “continues to strengthen [the] asking-and-granting mechanism”. While the law replaces words “asking permission” and “giving permission” with terms such as “registering, informing, proposing”, the bishops said, religions are still required “to inform government authorities about activities that authorities may or may not approve”.

So “religious freedom is not considered a human right but a grace that needs permission [from the Government],” said the statement signed by Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, head of the Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam and Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Kham, its secretary general. The statement was addressed to National Assembly chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and 500 assembly members.