The Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) held on October 24 in Thua Thien Hue province’s Hue city a seminar on the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion and the state management of land pertaining to religion.
The seminar was co-chaired by Vice Chairman of the GCRA Bùi Thanh Hà and Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Dung, and attended by members of the GCRA's Scientific Council, representatives from central sectors of mass mobilization, fatherland front and police, the municipal concerning authorities and 100 delegates representing the state management on religion from provinces and cities in Vietnam North and Central.
The seminar analyzed and accessed that the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion and the government decree No. 162/2017/ND-CP guiding the implement the new law since it took effect on January 1, 2018 has created a stable legal corridor, as well as has brought favorable conditions for religious practices by religious organizations and individuals, thus contributing to enhance the efficiency of the state management on belief and religion.
The seminar participants also pointed out difficulties and challenges in the implementation of the new belief and religious law in localities relating different interpretations of several concepts in the law, the registration of religious collective practicing places, the appointment and nomination of religious dignitaries and deacons, the judicial certification, collective religious practices of the foreigners who lawfully reside in Viet Nam and non-commercial legal entity of religious organizations, etc.
The seminar also covered discussion of different angles in the process of implementing the new law on belief and religion and the state management of land relating to religion in localities.
Addressing the seminar, Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà highly appreciated comments of seminar participants and gave explanations on several practical issues. According to the GCRA Vice Chairman, the seminar is part of the GCRA’s effort to gathering comments and seeking solutions for unified implementation of the belief and religious law and its guiding decree in localities, contributing to better guarantee the people’s right to freedom of belief and religion, and enhance the efficiency of the state governance management on religion.
As reported, Vietnam currently has 42 recognized religious organizations belonging to 15 religions, and the emergence of many new religious phenomena.
DT
