Addressing the sixth Congress of Vietnamese Catholics for National Construction and Defense, President Truong Tan Sang emphasized that the Party and State respect and protect the religious freedom of all citizens. The President made the reiteration while attending the event held in Hanoi on Wednesday, during which he also confirmed that favorable conditions are in place to support all religious organizations to operate within the law.

At the congress, which was attended by 450 delegates nationwide, participants reviewed the results of Catholic patriotic movements from the past five years and discussed activities set forth for the future, including enhancing the status of the Catholic Solidarity Committee. They will choose new committee members and work out a plan for the committee’s operations in the new tenure (2013-2018).

Over the past five years the committee has launched a number of programs offering free education and vocational training for homeless children and handicapped people, and giving free healthcare services to leprosy patients and people with HIV. On behalf of the Party and State, President Sang wished Catholics nationwide a happy Christmas next month. He praised the Catholic Solidarity Committee’s operational outcomes, saying that it acts as a bridge linking Catholics across the nation and encouraging them to contribute to local socio-economic development, poverty reduction and other movements. The President also asked the Committee to further bring into play its role in consolidating unity among Catholics and instructing them to abide by all directions, policies and laws of the Party and State.