Hanoi (VNA) – Solutions to superstitious practices inthe name of religion were highlighted by Minister of Culture, Sports andTourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien while replying to legislators’ questions on June 6morning.

In response to lawmakers’ queries about thisissue, Minister Thien affirmed that religion and belief are spiritual demand ofpart of the population, and religious practices are the legitimate right anddemand of the people, helping to diversify the spiritual life and developpeople comprehensively.

Vietnam’s laws always respect and protect thefreedom of religion and belief of the citizens, he emphasised.

However, some individuals have taken advantageof religion and belief to practice superstition and violate laws, he admitted,noting that punishments for such superstitious practices are stipulated inlaws, and the public have also condemned violations of ethics and traditionalculture.

To deal with those violations, it is necessaryto continue fine-tuning legal documents on superstition prevention, increasecommunications to improve public awareness of traditional cultural values inreligious activities, and condemn and strictly handle superstitious practicesin the name of religion and belief.

Localities should also work more to improvepeople’s material and spiritual life, build more cultural and sportsfacilities, and step up inspections of cultural activities, the minister added.

At the question-and-answer session, Minister ofHome Affairs Le Vinh Tan gave additional information about the State managementof religious activities.

He also pointed out the fact that recently,several persons have taken advantage of places of worship for Buddhists andpeople’s belief to practice superstition to seek profit, which has stirredpublic concern.

In the time ahead, the Ministry of Home Affairswill continue proposing legal documents to the Government to realise the Law onBelief and Religion, including a decree on administrative fines forinfringements, in order to prevent practices that abuse belief and religion anddeviate from Vietnam’s ethical and cultural standards.

He also underlined the need for strongerdissemination of legal regulations on belief and religion to the people,especially religious followers, and for more training in the field to workersof local authorities.

On this matter, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Damsaid the abuse of belief and religion to seek profit must be strictly handledin line with laws and by religious organisations. This problem also needs to beresolved by increasing communications.

He reiterated that the Party and State alwaysrespect the freedom of belief and religion of all people, and create conditionsfor religions to be practiced in line with laws.

The two-and-a-half-day hearing, broadcast liveon television and radio, was part of the ongoing seventh session of the 14thparliament.-VNA