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A battle rages on
Rich with lush foliage, sandy beaches, and ornate religious
structures, Vietnam has become one of today’s trendiest
vacation destinations. On the surface, it seems that this
nation of nearly 80 million people has moved beyond its troubled
past. However, in the eyes of the Christian minority, a daily
battle is still raging.
Our way or no way
From an official standpoint, certain religious freedoms are
a right for the Vietnamese—that is, of course, unless
they stand for something other than what is sanctioned by
the Communist government. But in order for a Christian group
to congregate, erect a church, or elect religious leaders,
they must seek permission from the government.
Unfortunately, approved evangelical churches
are few and far between. And for the majority of Vietnamese
Christians, outward expressions of faith
are both criminal and extremely dangerous. According to the U.S. State Department’s
International Freedom Report 2003, countless Christians have
suffered harassment, beatings, jail time, and theft from
their local authorities.
Barbaric behavior
Because of such accounts, Christianity Today reports that several
U.S. congress members are currently attempting to designate
Vietnam as a “country of particular concern,” the
harshest of designations for persecuted countries.
Nina Shea, vice chair of the U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom insists the
actions taken against Christians are “barbaric.” U.S.
Rep. Ed Royce, R-Cal., agrees, “The
stories of persecution and torture at the hands of the Vietnamese
Communist rulers are staggering and appalling."
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Vietnam