Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

In a strong bid to encourage Catholics to participate in secular issues, two open-minded church leaders ask Catholics to make peace in the world and foster patriotism, human rights and solidarity in their own country.

Living under the communist government's religious limitations for decades, most of Vietnamese Catholics tend to avoid facing persecution from government authorities by restricting their religious life within homes and churches. They also ignore burning issues damaging their nation and its place in the international community.

Recent months have been seeing changes in their attitudes to their faith life.

Marking the 97th anniversary of Mother Mary's appearances reportedly experienced by three shepherd children on Sept. 13, 1917, at Fatima, Portugal, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam issued a message drawing up practical guidelines on faith practices and evangelization in the world during this period of insecurity and amid challenges and dangers.

"As Vietnamese citizens, we have responsibility for the destiny of our Fatherland and mankind's peace and prosperity," said the message posted on the commission's site.

The commission, led by Bishop Paul Nguyen Thai Hop, briefed Catholics on issues ranging from the current bloody wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq and the political conflicts between Russia and Western countries, to territorial disputes between China and India, Japan and some Asian Southeast nations, including Vietnam.

The commission also condemned China for its ambitions of controlling whole East Sea (internationally known South China Sea) by flagrantly building military facilities and carrying out land reclamation on hotly disputed Spratly and Paracel archipelagoes that Vietnam also claims.

Regarding national issues, the message said Vietnam suffers from an economic downturn, moral decadence, social unrest, increasing violence and violation of human rights. It also accused the Vietnamese government of continuing to hold secret meetings with its northern great neighbor, ignoring warnings about dangers facing the country issued by intellectuals and patriots.

The message urged Catholics to "uphold patriotism and bravely take on the obligation to protect and build the nation in justice, truth, freedom and solidarity."

Excerpt from:
Vietnam church gets involved in national and international issues