Webinar | Vying for the Faith in Vietnam: Christians versus Communists

U.S. State Department Silent on Brutal Religious-Based Abuse Experienced By Believers in Vietnam

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In the past year, Christians in Vietnam have experienced a rapid escalation of repressive measures against those that resist government control. Of particular concern are the government’s intensifying efforts to force Christians to renounce their faith, crack down on house churches that do not submit themselves to government control, and coerce members of independent religious groups to join government-controlled religious organizations.

A recent advocacy letter sent to Sec. Antony Blinken in advance of his trip to Vietnam, signed by Save the Persecuted Christians (STPC) and at least 70 other human rights activists and organizations, called on him to “directly raise concerns with the Vietnamese leadership about their government’s antagonistic policies toward religions that do not submit to government control.”

ADF International reports, “The letter also calls for the release of multiple religious prisoners of conscience in Vietnam and for the Vietnamese government to amend laws that are used abusively towards religious minorities.”

Organized by the Vietnamese-American advocacy group, Boat People SOS (BPSOS), with solidarity from former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback and former Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Katrina Lantos-Swett, as well as hundreds of Vietnamese refugees who have fled Vietnam.

“To date, no response has been received from the U.S. State Department,” said Dede Laugesen, executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians. “America’s first freedom under the Constitution upholds religious freedom for all. When American officials fail to hold foreign state perpetrators accountable for their human rights abuse and crimes against people of faith—as they are required to to by law—in deference to political alliances, we lose our moral authority, weaken religious freedom globally, and find ourselves in bed with some of the World’s worst perpetrators. By not calling them out and demanding resolution, we give tacit approval to violence towards Christians and other faith minorities.”

During this webinar, our experts examine recent abuse of religious freedom in Vietnam, analyze the plight of those who yearn to worship Christ without fear of harm, and consider America’s response following Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to strengthen alliances with the CCP-linked Communists in control.

MODERATOR:

- Frank Gaffney: President and CEO of Save the Persecuted Christians

PANELISTS:

- Dr. Trong Q. Phan, Co-Founder, Advocates for Faith and Justice in Vietnam
• Topic – The Hidden Agenda of Communist Government Targeted Vietnamese Catholics

- Dr. Thang D. Nguyễn, CEO and President, Boat People SOS (BPSOS)
• Topic – Forced Renunciation and Conversion of Faith Targeting Hmong and Montagnard Christians

- Faith McDonnell, Director of Advocacy, Katartismos Global
• Topic – Vietnam: Decades of Abuse and Violations of Religious Freedom

- John Prabhudoss, Chairman of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA)
• Topic –What Are the Obligations of the U.S. State Department and other Agencies to Uphold, Promote, and Defend Religious Freedom as Foreign Policy?

- Dede Laugesen, Executive Director, Save the Persecuted Christians; Executive Secretary, Committee on the Present Danger: China
• Topic: Why Communists Insist on Controlling Christians and the Techniques Used in Vietnam to Marginalize and Oppress Believers