The working visit aimed at studying religious situation and state governance of religious affairs in the two countries, thus contributing to the advisory task of making proposals to the Party and State on state religious affairs in current practice and developing the legal system regarding belief and religion.   

During the visit, the inter-ministerial delegation had working meetings with Mrs. Mercedes Del Carmen Guillen Vicente, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in charge of religious affairs of Mexico; Mr. Arturo Manuel Diaz Leon, Mexico’s General Director for Religious Associations; Bishop Eugenio Lira Rugarcia, General Secretary of Mexico’s Conference of Bishops;  Mrs. Carida Diego Bello, Member of Cuba’s Communist Party’s Central Committee, Chief of Office of Religious Affairs under Cuban Communist Party. Besides, the delegation met representatives of Mexican Labour Party, visited Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico, General Department for Public Security under Cuba’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Cuba’s Council of Churches and the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico and Cuba, and laid wreath at President Ho Chi Minh monument in Mexico.

Bishop Eugenio Lira Rugarcia, General Secretary of Mexico’s Conference of Bishops welcomes Mr. Phạm Dũng, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs cum Chairman of the Government Committee for Religions Affairs

At meetings, the working delegation was informed about religious situation and state policies and laws on religions in Mexico and Cuba, especially on Cathocism. Although majorities of the population in Mexico and Cuba are Catholics, Mexico and Cuba remain secular states and ensure that the Catholic Church does not carry out political activities or activities harmful to the political security. All religious activities must abide by provisions of written legal documents. Specifically:

In Mexico, the Religious Associations and Public Worship Law was enacted in 1992, aimed at adjusting social effects of religious practices and setting criteria for registration of a religious association, etc. Mexico’s General Department for Religious Associations under Ministry of Home Affairs is the federal body in charge of state governance on religions and beliefs, including religious assets and places of worship…

In Cuba, the 54 Law code on religious associations was passed in 1985 and this law is under consideration for amendments. The Office of Religious Affairs under Cuban Communist Party is the state body in charge of religious affairs, while the Ministry of Justice has the functions to grant legal registration and supervise the implementation of religious laws by religious organizations. Cuba is under review for establishing a state body in charge of religious affairs under the executive branch of government.

In addition, the Government in Mexico and Cuba respect the internal affairs between the Vatican and Catholic Church in the two countries. The State of Mexico and Cuba attach its importance to the relation with the Vatican and this relation has developed positively for past years. Especially, Vatican has supported Cuba and requested America to remove its embargo against Cuba for many years ago.

Besides, at meetings with the inter-ministerial delegation, representatives from state bodies on religious affairs of Mexico and Cuba stated that the relation between the Catholic Church and the State in the two countries have experienced through many ups and downs, and had periods of contention, even conflicts. For Mexico, the relation between the Catholic Church and the Mexican State has considerably improved since 1992, when the State granted the legal status to the Catholic Church and many positive changes related to religion, especially religion-related housing and land, took place. The Catholic-related land issue has always been one of complicated matters in the relation between the State and Catholic Church in Mexico, and the Mexican State does not allow the Church to use the land or worshipping places for wrong purposes, and would take back the land and worship place if the Church misused, or no longer used such land and/or place of worship (According to Mexican laws, the State owns land and places of worship used by religious organizations prior to 1992, and allocates these land or places for uses by churches). The Catholic Church in Mexico and Cuba abide by the laws and state regulations, and cause no harm to public security and social order in the locality.

In his discussion, Mr. Phạm Dũng, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs cum Chairman of the Government Committee for Religions Affairs emphasized that since Vietnam proclaimed its independence in 1945, the State of Vietnam have consistently implemented the policy of respecting and safeguarding people’s right to freedom of belief and religion, and religions’ right to equality before the laws; the State of Vietnam does not allow bad elements to abuse religion in order to undermine public security and order, or violate state laws. The State of Vietnam has enacted several legal documents on religion for suiting development periods and practical changes of religious life in Vietnam.

Mr. Phạm Dũng also informed that majorities of religious organizations, dignitaries and followers of religions in Vietnam have a tradition of closely accompanying the nation, and nowadays religions in Vietnam are promoting this fine tradition by proactively participating in social charities and humanitarian activities, and actively joining movements for building and defending the Motherland. In the context of China’s illegally placing of oil rig HD 981, escorting vessels deep into Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf together with intimidating acts against Vietnamese fishing boats and ships from Vietnamese law enforcement forces,  religions in Vietnam have issued appeals and messages to call upon religious dignitaries and followers to pray for peace in the East Sea, give donations and supports to fishermen and law enforcement forces working around China’s illegal placing of its oil rig sea area, as well as to request China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands and the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), and immediately withdraw its oil rig HD 981 and escorting ships from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Besides, given a fact that the religious freedom in Vietnam has been not objectively stated, even misunderstood, by individuals and organizations inside and outside of Vietnam, many dignitaries and followers of religions have raised their voice and helped clarify the fine policy of Vietnam’s Party and State on freedom of religion. 

For Catholicism, Mr. Phạm Dũng also informed the orientation of action towards devoting to both religious and secular lives and keeping a close attachment to the community and the nation by Vietnam Catholic Church, and stated positive developments in the relation between the State of Vietnam and the Vatican in previous years.

The working visit to Mexico and Cuba by the inter-ministerial delegation received fruitful coordination and support from Vietnamese Embassy in the two countries. The Ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Vietnam in Mexico and Cuba participated in all meetings and discussions between the delegation and Mexican and Cuban counterparts. Results of the working visit will serve as references for submitting proposals to the Party and State on state religious affairs, and Catholic affairs particularly, in the current context./.

Some images of the delegation:

The inter-ministerial delegation takes photo with Mrs. Mercedes Del Carmen Guillen Vicente, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in charge of religious affairs of Mexico and Mr. Arturo Manuel Diaz Leon, Mexico’s General Director for Religious Associations

\

The inter-ministerial delegation takes photo with Mrs. Carida Diego Bello, Member of Cuba’s Communist Party’s Central Committee, Chief of Office of Religious Affairs under Cuban Communist Party and representatives from Cuban General Department for Public Security 

The inter-ministerial delegation takes photo in front of Vietnam Embassy in Cuba  

ĐCT