President of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) meets with members of the Vietnam Episcopal Council (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Party, State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) will always closely work with religions in general and Catholic followers in particular in building the country prosperously and promoting the national great unity, said President of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.
Addressing the opening session of the Vietnam Episcopal Council (VEC)’s 13th congress in Ho Chi Minh City on October 4, which also saw the presence of representatives from the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, and municipal officials, the VFF leader praised contributions of Catholic dignitaries and followers to the national construction and defence.
While highlighting the patriotism of Catholic followers, he expressed his hope that the VEC will continue promoting solidarity among Catholic communities nationwide.
He said with its responsibility, the VFF has been giving comments relating to the building of the Law on Belief and Religion to the National Assembly.
When the law is adopted, it will contribute to protecting the right to belief and religion of citizens, and recognise significant contributions of religions to the nation’s development as well, he noted.
On behalf of the VEC, Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc thanked the Party, State and the VFF for their wishes to the congress, saying that the five-day congress will work to outline operation programmes in line with the current situation in the country.-VNA
