(VOVworld) – The 6^th congress of patriotic Vietnamese Catholics will open in Hanoi on Wednesday with 450 delegates attending. Pastor Nguyen Van Vinh, Chairman of Khanh Hoa province’s Committee for Catholic Solidarity, said: “Dioceses attach importance to moral education to avoid negative situations. The state guarantees the freedom of religion and religious followers like us respect the law and always try to lead a good religious and secular life.”

Pastor Phan Khac Tu, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Committee for Catholic Solidarity said he hoped that the congress would highlight the role of Catholics in the nation. Pham Huy Thong, Vice Chairman of Hanoi’s Committee for Catholic Solidarity, said: “The Vietnam Committee for Catholic Solidarity should raise its profile in order to be a bridge linking religious organizations with local administrations. The committee should have legal experts who can consult local administrations and organize discussions between Catholics and local governments. Delays in resolving problems will lead to major cases, affecting social security and Vietnam’s image among international friends.”

Prior to the congress, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan visited Bui Chu diocese, which houses 400,000 Catholic followers and more than 700 churches. He also visited Kien Lao diocese and orphanage and worked with Hanoi’s Committee for Catholic Solidarity.