Vietnam's new number one warns Catholics of obligations

Agence France Presse
HANOI, Jan 1 Vietnam's new Communist Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu on Thursday called on Roman Catholics to do more for the country, reports said Thursday.

Catholics must assume "their obligations to society and put themselves at the service of the country," Phieu was quoted saying at a meeting with Catholic leaders by Nhan Dan, the official Communist Party newspaper.

Vietnam's new leader added that "respect for independence, sovereignty and state laws are the correct attitude."

His remarks came after President Tran Duc Luong on Tuesday called on Catholics at a congress here to be more patriotic and contribute to the development of the country.

Vietnamese catholics were at the forefront of a series of demonstrations in November in Dong Nai province against the expropriation of church land and corruption.

The Catholic church, with seven million followers, is strictly controlled by the Fatherland Front, an umbrella group of the Communist Party, which controls all social and religious organizations.

"The party always respects freedom of religion of all its citizens including Catholics," Phieu said, adding that the party would "create favourable conditions for Catholics to fulfill their duties and rights as citzens and to contribute to the development and defence of the country.

The appointment of the conservative Phieu on Monday was seen by analysts as a sign of the party's determination to ensure political and social stability.