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Vietnam
Catholics as good citizens
Government promotes nationalist leanings
Vietnam’s Communist leaders have praised the country’s Catholics for promoting nationalism over religion, according to official government newspapers. Communist Party Secretary General Le Kha Phieu said he was moved to learn that Catholic dioceses were promoting a new hymn entitled, “I was Vietnamese first before I became Catholic.”
The practice of religion in Vietnam is strongly controlled by the Communist government, which requires allegiance to the government above all, and insists on government approval prior to the appointment of bishops and the ordination of priests.
The Vietnam News quoted Phieu as saying, “The song fully reflects the Catholics’ noble sentiment and high sense of responsibility toward the nation and their religion.” The paper said Phieu was speaking on Wednesday with delegates to the National Conference on Exemplary Catholics in the Patriotic Emulation Movements.
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