Vietnamese Catholics suffer discrimination in communist society
(July 13,2010) Vietnam’s six million Catholics are trying to work together with the
communist population to build the nation and its society, after centuries of repression
and violence. But the Church still suffers discrimination and limitations, especially
in the areas of education, healthcare and social activities, despite government reassurances
of religious freedom. Bishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh of Thanh Hoa and vice president
of the Vietnam Bishops' Conference, said that Catholics live and share their lives
with the general population and are increasingly seeking a way to reduce tensions.
But among the population there are still many internal conflicts, due to the difference
of ideologies and political viewpoints. On June 28 in Rome, the Vatican and the
government agreed to the appointment of a papal representative for Vietnam. The decision
was seen as a new possibility for an increase of religious freedom in the country,
especially in the Church's participation in the development of Vietnamese society
in the area of education and health care and also spiritually. The decision was met
with general approval by Vietnamese Catholics,but it has also created controversy.
The papal representative will not reside in Vietnam, but in a third country. Some
of the 26 bishops in Vietnam say they have had no voice in the meetings between the
Holy See and Hanoi. Some faithful see the decision as undermining the weight of the
Vietnamese bishops' conference and maintain that it prevents the Vatican from hearing
the true voice of the faithful, who live in the country.