Final article: Consistent policy of respecting freedom of religious belief
That spirit is demonstrated by our Party and State through a system of policies appropriate to each revolutionary stage. After the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, in the first meeting on September 3, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh proposed that the Provisional Government declare: "Freedom of belief and solidarity between religions", considering it one of the six tasks of the young State. On May 10, 1958, when answering questions from Hanoi voters, President Ho Chi Minh once again reiterated: "In socialist countries, belief is completely free. It is the same in Vietnam". He always respected the ethical and cultural values in beliefs and religions. He believed that Buddha, Jesus and Confucius were all great men in history, teachers. They sacrificed and fought for human happiness, fought against oppression and injustice and always dreamed of a better society. Although religion is "the illusory happiness of the people", the sacrifices of those leaders for the dreams of humanity are very valuable. He believes that: If Jesus were born in our time and had to face the sufferings of his contemporaries, he would certainly be a socialist looking for a way to save humanity.
In 1990, our Party had a policy of religious innovation through Resolution No. 24 NQ/T.Ư dated October 16, 1990 of the Politburo with the title "On strengthening religious work in the new situation", which determined: Religion is a long-standing issue. Belief and religion are the spiritual needs of a part of the people. Religious ethics have many things that are consistent with the construction of a new society. Next, Resolution 25 of the 7th Conference of the Party Central Committee, 9th term (2003) affirmed: "Belief and religion are the spiritual needs of a part of the people, which are and will exist with the nation in the process of building socialism in our country. Religious people are part of the great national unity bloc", "Consistently implement the policy of respecting and ensuring the right to freedom of belief, to follow or not to follow any religion, the right to practice normal religious activities in accordance with the law".
Most recently, in the Platform for National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011), our Party continued to consistently affirm: “Respect and ensure the people’s freedom of belief, religion and non-belief and religion according to the provisions of law. Fight against and strictly handle all acts of violating freedom of belief and religion and taking advantage of belief and religion to harm the interests of the Fatherland and the people.”
The viewpoints of our Party since its founding have demonstrated that the Party considers freedom of belief an important human need, one of the legitimate civil rights. Over 25 years of the renovation cause, our people have achieved important successes in many areas of social life, including the religious field. The material and spiritual life of religious people has improved, religious dignitaries and followers are reassured and excited, increasingly trusting in the Party's and State's policies and guidelines, and together with the entire people, actively participating in the cause of national renovation.
Particularly for Nghe An, the Party Committees and authorities at all levels have developed, issued and implemented many policies to build, consolidate and improve the quality of the political system in areas with religious people; mobilize propaganda to foster and develop positive factors among religious people; prioritize investment in building infrastructure, loans for production and business... The Provincial People's Committee has also allowed the separation and establishment of many parishes and sub-parishes, built new, upgraded and repaired many churches, and expanded spacious worship grounds. The Fatherland Front and people's organizations regularly pay attention to and encourage religious organizations, humanitarian charity centers, dignitaries, key personnel, policy families... on important holidays of religions (Christmas, Buddha's birthday) and traditional national New Year. The functional departments and branches have actively followed the locality, grasped the aspirations and wishes to proactively advise competent authorities to promptly resolve the legitimate needs of religious followers and dignitaries; Carry out propaganda work well, mobilize religious dignitaries, officials, followers, people with beliefs, religious organizations and people to comply with laws on beliefs and religions; bring the policies of the Party and State closer to religious people; promote the strength of great national unity, for the goal of "rich people, strong country, fair, democratic and civilized society".
Up to now, in our province, there are two main religions: Catholicism and Buddhism. Of which, Buddhism has about 25,000 followers, 15 dignitaries, monks (8 abbots of pagodas), 24 pagodas. In 2011, with the help and facilitation of the government, the Executive Committee of Nghe An Provincial Buddhist Association was established. Catholicism alone has about 250,000 followers, 98 dignitaries (2 bishops, 96 priests), including Vinh Bishopric (including Catholics from 3 provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh), Vinh Thanh Major Seminary, Xa Doai Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross (5 establishments) with 339 places of worship, including 86 parish churches in 211/480 communes and towns; 14 urban districts have organized religious establishments, the remaining 6 districts (Con Cuong, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Tuong Duong, Ky Son) have about 543 parishioners. Since the Ordinance on Belief and Religion and Decree No. 22/2005/ND-CP guiding and implementing a number of articles of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion were issued, authorities at all levels have paid attention to promptly resolving, in accordance with legal policies, the legitimate religious activity needs, in accordance with the reality of the church and believers.
Specifically, the issuance of new construction permits for more than 70 worship facilities; the separation of more than 20 parishes and 33 parishes, creating favorable conditions for religious activities for parishes with a large number of parishioners, believers far from the worship facilities, and those with difficulty traveling. Most of the newly established parishes have been allocated land, allowing dozens of religious establishments to expand their worship areas, and new land to be allocated based on the religious needs of the church, land funds, and planning permissions such as: Handing over the land of Vu Dang Khoa School in Quynh Lam commune, Quynh Luu district with more than 14,000m2 to Thuan Nghia Parish for management and use; Handing over to Vinh Thanh Major Seminary to expand the campus by more than 5,800m2; Entrust Mai Linh family in Cua Lo town to manage and use 5000m2... Approve the Major Seminary to recruit 129 seminarians, ordain 1 bishop, 81 priests, appoint and transfer 98 priests...
In addition to creating conditions for religious activities and investing in building infrastructure in religious areas, Party committees and authorities at all levels also pay attention to strengthening mass organizations and training and fostering key cadres in religious areas. Up to now, most of the religious hamlets have a Front Committee and mass organizations. In 865 hamlets with over 40% of Catholics, there are 852 youth union branches (accounting for 99.5%), 855 women's unions (accounting for 99.9%), 854 farmers' unions (accounting for 99.8%), 819 veterans' unions (accounting for 95.7%). Only in the election of the 12th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2011-2016 term, there were 2 Catholics elected as provincial People's Council delegates; 25 elected as district People's Council delegates; 395 elected as commune-level People's Council delegates. Many progressive Catholics who have realized the harmony between religion and life have joined the Party. As of 2011, the whole province had 756 Catholic Party members…
That result demonstrates the government's proper attention to the legitimate and legal religious needs of the church and Catholic followers, demonstrating the consistent principle of respecting freedom and religious beliefs. Thereby, making dignitaries and followers trust in the law and policies, feel secure in living and practicing their religion. In fact, in recent times, Catholics and parishes and clans in our province (accounting for about 8.2% of the province's population) have demonstrated their civic responsibility, contributing significantly to the protection and construction of their homeland and country through emulation movements to do good business, donate land for road construction, engage in charity and humanitarian activities, build "advanced parishes, exemplary Catholic families", actively participate in government building, and consolidate national unity.
In the movement of "living a good life, good religion", "respecting God, loving the country", many examples of good people, good deeds, and typical examples of progress have appeared among Catholics. In the past 10 years alone, 28 parishes, 183 Catholics in the province have been awarded certificates of merit by the Vietnam Religious Solidarity Committee, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and the Provincial People's Committee at the congresses of Nghe An Catholics building and defending the Fatherland, and conferences to commend typical progress among Catholics. In addition, there are thousands of collectives, individuals and units with achievements in the patriotic emulation movement at the provincial, district and commune levels.
However, in some parishes and parishes, there are still illegal activities at different levels, some of which are complicated and prolonged, negatively affecting local security and order. Typical examples include petitions to illegally reclaim land in Cau Ram Parish (Vinh City), Dong Len Parish (Nghia Dan); illegal land transfers, encroachments, and constructions in Ngoc Long Parish (Cong Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District); Tan Dien, Lat Parish (Tan Ky), Xuan Kieu (Nghi Kieu Commune), La Nham, Hoi Yen Parish (Nghi Yen Commune), Nghi Loc District; Phu Linh Parish (Dien Chau); resisting law enforcement officers and destroying property in Trung Hoa Parish, Thanh Hoa Commune, Thanh Chuong District; gathering crowds, filing complaints, and blocking vehicles in Mau Lam Parish (Nghi Lam Commune, Nghi Loc District). Most recently, illegal proselytizing, illegal arrests and assaults took place in Yen Khe commune (Con Cuong district)...
To ensure discipline under the law and equality before the law, strictly handling religious activities that violate the law on the basis of respecting freedom, belief and legitimate needs of parishioners is natural and mandatory.
However, in handling the matter, authorities at all levels always use persuasion to persuade dignitaries, officials and believers to clearly see the violations, voluntarily stop wrongdoings and remedy the consequences. At the same time, they proactively meet and discuss with parish priests and officials to coordinate the resolution. (In 2011 alone, provincial leaders worked with Bishop Nguyen Thai Hop three times, received and worked with the Vatican's non-resident special envoy - Mr. Leopoldo Girelli)...
Thanks to that, a number of cases have been resolved peacefully, with dignitaries and parishioners voluntarily remedying the consequences. Typically, parishioners of Mai Linh parish (Cua Lo town) voluntarily dismantled the illegally built wall at Thu Thuy Primary School; Trai Gao parish (Nghi Phuong commune, Nghi Loc district) stopped illegal construction, completed procedures to apply for land to expand the church grounds...
However, there are still many difficult and complicated cases that have lasted for a long time, affecting the security and order situation in the locality. There are many reasons, including individual dignitaries who have not fully recognized their civic responsibilities and have not cooperated with the local government. It is worth noting that some parish priests have disrespected the government and preached false information at the parish church, causing a segment of parishioners to have incorrect perceptions of the Party and State's policies and guidelines.
Reality has proven that no religion stands outside the nation and above the national and ethnic interests. National interests are the highest, including the interests of religions. Therefore, linking "religion with life", "religion with the nation" to "glorify the country and enlighten religion" has always been the aspiration of generations. Therefore, religious organizations, dignitaries and followers need to strictly comply with the State's policies and laws, trust and support the Party committees and authorities, strengthen "consensus between people with beliefs and religions and people without beliefs and religions; between people with different beliefs and religions" for the goal of "rich people, strong country, fair, democratic and civilized society". That is also a solid foundation to preserve and ensure "freedom of religion".
Thanh Chung - Khanh Ly
