Directive No. 379-TTg on religious activities

DIRECTIVE

ON RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Decree No. 69/HĐBT dated March 21, 1991 of the Council of Ministers (now the Government) on religious activities has been organized and strictly implemented by local authorities at all levels. The Third Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Church and the Fifth Congress of the Council of Bishops of the Catholic Church have affirmed good results, creating confidence and enthusiasm among religious leaders and followers regarding the religious policy of the Party and State.

However, in some localities, the dissemination and implementation of Decree No. 69/HĐBT are not thorough enough at various levels of government and responsible agencies, leading to some shortcomings and deviations in its execution. Some religious leaders have not been adequately guided to understand the provisions of Decree No. 69/HĐBT, resulting in some improper actions. The resolution of disputes over places of worship is often delayed and prolonged without final resolution. In some places, the authorities have not created favorable conditions for religions in training clergy and printing religious texts. In other places, there is loose management of the printing of religious books and publications, including some superstitious and deviant books that do not respect laws on publishing. The handling of individuals who exploit the freedom of belief policy to collude with foreign reactionary elements to undermine religious unity and national solidarity is not timely.

Information and propaganda work on the state's religious policies is still weak, failing to make the specific regulations ensuring freedom of belief widely understood by religious leaders and followers both within and outside the country, nor promptly and effectively combating the false propaganda of reactionaries exploiting religion.

To ensure the effective implementation of the Party and State's religious policies, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. All levels of government and religious bodies at all levels must properly address the following issues:

Permitting the repair and renovation of religious worship sites that are damaged or deteriorated. For worship sites previously borrowed by state agencies for other uses, they should be returned to the religious organizations or the site administrators if the use was inappropriate. Worship sites destroyed by war or natural disasters can be rebuilt upon request from religious leaders, based on land law provisions. In the construction and renovation of worship sites, excessive mobilization of people's funds and labor, which may affect their livelihoods and production, should be avoided.

Permitting the printing of religious scriptures in accordance with publication laws. Creating conditions for religions to print books domestically. If religions wish to import scriptures from abroad, they must comply with state regulations on importing cultural products. The inspection of imported religious publications should be conducted quickly and according to legal procedures.

Creating conditions for religions to train clergy domestically at approved training institutions. Religions may send religious leaders abroad for training if there is genuine need. Attention should be given to the selection criteria, focusing on those who have performed their civic duties well. Permitting lecturers to rotate teaching positions at domestic training schools. A course on civic education must be included in the curriculum of clergy training schools.

Religious organizations must report annually to the government on their religious activity programs, especially religious holidays, so that the government can approve and assist. Any significant changes in the program must be reported and approved by the local government.

Guiding religious leaders to thoroughly understand and correctly implement state regulations on religious foreign activities, including sending religious leaders or delegations abroad or welcoming foreign religious delegations to Vietnam.

2. People's Committees and religious bodies at all levels must inspect the implementation of Decree No. 69/HĐBT locally, affirm and promote correct practices, and immediately rectify incorrect ones. It is necessary to study and supplement state laws and regulatory documents on managing religions to ensure normal religious activities, stop violations of religious policies, and combat reactionaries exploiting religious freedom to undermine the country's construction and defense efforts, religious unity, and national solidarity.

From now on, provincial and municipal people's committees under the central government and the State's Religious Committee must quarterly report to the Prime Minister on the implementation of religious policies.

3. People's Committees and religious bodies at all levels must help religions fully understand and correctly implement the state's guidelines, policies, and regulations outlined in Decree No. 69/HĐBT. During implementation, religions may propose to the government and religious bodies at all levels to supplement state regulatory documents to create favorable conditions for normal and lawful religious activities. Upon receiving proposals, government agencies at all levels must study and clearly respond to religions about the points accepted or requiring further explanation.

The state permits religions to operate in accordance with its laws, but strictly prohibits the exploitation of religion for anti-government activities and to cause divisions among the people. For those violating the law, local governments must promptly identify and address the violations for correction. If they persistently violate the law, evidence must be gathered to handle them according to the law as with any citizen.

4. Strengthen the religious affairs committees of the provincial and centrally governed city people's committees to ensure they have sufficient staff with research and management capabilities for religious activities. People's committees of districts, counties, and towns with multiple religions shall establish Religious Affairs Committees. Government officials engaged in religious work shall not be part of the organizational structure of religious organizations. The Government Organizational and Cadre Affairs Committee and the Government Religious Affairs Committee shall organize this matter specifically. The Ministry of Finance shall increase funding for religious management at all levels.

5. Enhance information dissemination and propaganda on religious policies both domestically and internationally. The Ministry of Culture and Information, the Vietnam News Agency, radio and television stations, and diplomatic agencies and Vietnamese representative offices abroad must proactively strengthen external propaganda efforts to make people understand clearly the religious policies of the Party and the State, and combat all false accusations and distortions regarding the religious situation and policies in our country.

The Prime Minister requests local authorities at all levels and central state agencies to strictly implement this Directive. The Government Religious Affairs Committee is responsible for guiding, monitoring implementation, and reporting results to the Prime Minister./.