Freedom of belief only exists when the law is respected.

(Baonghean) While authorities at all levels and functional agencies are trying to stabilize the situation after the public disorder incident that occurred in Yen Khe commune, Con Cuong district on July 1, 2012, in recent days, some parishes have hung banners with content that distorts the truth, incites and divides solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, and between Catholics and the government.

On the internet, some websites continue to post fabricated information, distorting black and white to defame the authorities at all levels and spreading false news, accusing the authorities of mobilizing the police and army to "attack and suppress religion in Con Cuong", "using thugs to beat parishioners and priests", and calling for "prayers for the parishioners of Con Cuong"... Even more perversely, some priests and parishioners also demand that the investigation agency cancel the decision to prosecute the case of disturbing public order that occurred in Yen Khe commune; demand that the police stop summoning related subjects... The intention of those who spread false information, distort the truth and post it on websites is to deceive fellow believers, deceive international public opinion, and assist hostile forces in carrying out their plot of peaceful evolution against Vietnam.

First of all, it must be made clear that in the world, every country, including developed countries, manages religious activities by law. The Law of December 9, 1905 of the French Republic, Article 26 stipulates that "Gatherings to perform religious rituals must be reported to and subject to the control of the government agency responsible for maintaining public order. Political meetings are prohibited in places dedicated to worship and the practice of religious rituals". Article 35 of this law also clearly states: "Any clergyman who publicly calls for, orally or in writing, the refusal to comply with the law of the state shall be imprisoned from 3 months to 2 years".

In our country, “Citizens’ freedom of belief and religion” has been affirmed by the State in the Constitutions of 1946, 1959, 1980, 1992 and recently in the Ordinance of 2004 and has always been consistent in the policies of the Party and the State. Vietnamese law also strictly prohibits any act of taking advantage of freedom of belief and religion to propagate against the law, against the policies of the Party and the State; causing disunity among the people, disturbing public order; harming the life, health and dignity of others... Over the years, especially during the renovation period, the Party Committee and authorities at all levels in Nghe An have created many conditions for citizens’ freedom of belief and religion as well as the freedom not to follow any religion to be guaranteed and implemented. Along with the fact that many churches, pagodas, places of worship... of religions recognized by law have been renovated and newly built; Religious activities of monks and nuns as well as religious activities of believers and Buddhists have developed along with socio-economic development. I think that any religious follower or non-religious person, anywhere in Nghe An knows this, the author sees no need to give specific evidence.

And furthermore, if you visit the website “Official Information Portal of Vinh Diocese”, readers will see a flood of information about the religious activities of priests, monks, students of major seminaries, minor seminaries, pre-seminarians; groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies of religious facilities... Not to mention that some websites of some parishes and some organizations related to Catholicism in Nghe An are also flooded with similar information. Can anyone believe that Nghe An is “suppressing religion”, Nghe An is “suffocating religion”?

Back to the so-called "Nghe An government suppressing religion" in Con Cuong that articles on some websites spread.

What is the case of some priests and religious dignitaries in Quan Lang Parish (Anh Son) attracting many parishioners (sometimes up to 700 people) from other places to Con Cuong to hold ceremonies, preach, and spread religion since the end of 2010 without the approval of competent authorities? If it is not a violation of religious laws! What is the case of some parishioners clashing with local people and illegally arresting, detaining, and imprisoning 43 people of Thai ethnic group and some district and commune officials at the house of Mr. Pham The Tran in Trung Huong village, Yen Khe commune (Con Cuong) on ​​July 1, 2012 for many hours? If it is not an act of disturbing public order, illegally detaining people, resisting people on duty, seriously violating the 1999 Penal Code, amended in 2009.

Not to mention that priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc himself called the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to ask for help when the incident happened, but when the number of police officers came to perform their duties, protecting the priests and parishioners leaving Con Cuong, they made up a story that "Police and army came to suppress and beat priests and parishioners"! I would like to ask, if the police force was not present, where would the fight have gone when the dissatisfaction of the local ethnic people towards the illegal proselytizing of the priest and many parishioners of Quan Lang Parish was at a high level, what would have been the consequences? Finally, I would like to ask, was there any priest who suffered even a minor injury that day?

That is the truth. However, some elements have taken advantage of religion, taken advantage of the Party and State's policy of freedom of belief and religion, in many ways such as writing slanderous articles on websites, hanging banners "protesting the government" in front of some Catholic churches, spreading false rumors, spreading false information... That is not only a blatant fabrication to incite honest Catholics, to divide the solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, but also a serious violation of the law!

It is affirmed that religious interests are always closely linked to the interests of the nation and the state. And, the right to freedom of belief and religion can only be realized when religious activities are in accordance with the law, within the framework of the law. Any religious activities in the form of anarchy, taking advantage of religion to divide the solidarity of the whole people must be condemned and must be handled according to the law.

Le Thach Vinh