People gather at the Saint Joseph Cathedral (Big Church) for Christmas celebration (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The adoption of theLaw on Belief and Religion in 2016 was an important legal reform in Vietnam, creatinga firm legal framework to better ensure citizens’ rights to freedom of beliefand religion.
According to Spokesperson of the ForeignMinistry Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnam has spared no efforts in improving the legalsystem and policies in the field, and recognised 42 religious organisations aslegal entities.
Religious organisations have got involved insocial activities such as establishing more than 450 health facilities and 270kindergartens, and supporting 11,800 social welfare beneficiaries.
In 2016, the Board of Representatives of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was recognised.
The Hieu Nghia Ta Lon Buddism and the VietnameseFull Gospel Church were granted certificates of registration for religiouspractices in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
The State has facilitated religious organisationsin printing and distributing scriptures and religious supplies.
More than 3,000 religious publications have been issued with some10 million printed copies and millions of CDs and DVDs in many languages.
Most of the religious organisations have their own websites. Internationalcooperation activities of religious individuals andorganisations are developing strongly.
Major international religious activities are held in Vietnam,such as the Vesak Festival 2014 and the 500th anniversary of the ProtestantReformation in 2017.
With the State’s support, the Vietnam Buddhist Sanghaimplemented the construction of the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Academy in theMekong Delta city of Can Tho in 2017.-VNA
VNA
