Early recognition and prevention

Regarding the activities of the organization "Church of God the Mother" which has recently been rekindled, along with the participation and fierce struggle of the police force, public opinion strongly opposes and demands strict handling of the law-breaking acts of the "Church of God the Mother".

Mr. Ho Viet Anh, Head of the Religious Affairs Department, Department of Home Affairs of Thanh Hoa province, talked with reporters.

Mr. Ho Viet Anh, Head of the Religious Affairs Committee, Department of Home Affairs of Thanh Hoa province, said: In recent years, implementing the Party and State's policies and guidelines on beliefs and religions, all levels of organizations, authorities, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in the province have always paid attention to doing a good job in religious work in general and State management of religion in particular; resolving and meeting the legitimate needs of organizations and individuals in religious activities and practices, the religious situation in the province has been basically stable.

“The first thing I affirm is that the “Church of God the Mother” has not been authorized by the competent authority to conduct religious activities. Most of the activities of the groups bearing the name “Church of God the Mother” in the recent past have violated the law; these groups have not been approved by the competent authority to register for collective religious activities,” Mr. Ho Viet Anh affirmed.

According to the provisions of the Law on Belief and Religion, the performance of religious rituals, preaching, and proselytizing by dignitaries, officials, and monks must be conducted at religious establishments or other legal locations. If preaching is outside the area of ​​responsibility, religious establishments, or registered legal locations, it must be approved by the competent state agency where the organization is planned. The fact that subjects go to propagate about the "Church of God the Mother" at gathering places without the approval of the competent state agency and some groups have profit-making motives, put forth magical arguments as well as methods and tools to fascinate and entice people to participate in some localities, causing confusion and indignation among the masses is a violation of the provisions of the Law on Belief and Religion.

With many illegal acts that negatively affect believers, their families and society, the activities of these groups, regardless of their form, must be condemned and strictly handled according to the law.

Pastor Duong Van Tuan, Administrator of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) Thanh Hoa Evangelical Church.

Pastor Duong Van Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Evangelical Church (North) Thanh Hoa Evangelical Church also frankly expressed his opinion about the "Church of God the Mother": "We see that the doctrine of the "Church of God the Mother" is a cult that we have recognized for a long time, it has a very harmful effect on social security, as well as on the Churches of God in Vietnam. They carry the name "Church of God", but do things that are contrary to the Bible, contrary to the words of God. For the Protestant churches, the leaders and missionaries will be the ones responsible before the law, with the duty to protect their followers from incidents, but because it is an illegal activity, the missionaries and leaders of the groups of the HTCĐCTM organization never show up, if there is an incident, they do not dare to stand up to take responsibility, or protect the followers when they believe.

Their wrongdoings are not good for society and the community. We are very indignant and request that the government take strong measures to awaken them to return to their religious life; to stabilize social order."

Faced with the complicated activities of the “Church of God the Mother”, the provincial police force has recently implemented many measures to prevent and suppress the illegal proselytizing activities of this organization; at the same time, it has discovered, arrested and strictly handled many groups of the “Church of God the Mother”, confiscating many documents and exhibits related to illegal proselytizing and religious activities.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Duy Dung, Head of the Internal Security Department, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, directed the professional department to strengthen preventive measures, combat and strictly handle violations of the "Church of God the Mother".

Lieutenant Colonel Le Duy Dung, Head of the Domestic Security Department of Thanh Hoa Province Police, said: Currently, we have investigated and clearly understood the organizational structure, methods and tricks of the organization calling itself "Church of God the Mother"; we have also grasped the leaders, key members, and the number of people participating in activities to have measures to fight and handle.

In January 2021, Thanh Hoa City Police, Thanh Hoa Province discovered and deleted the illegal propaganda and activity point of "Church of God the Mother" via Zalo in Phu Son Ward, led by Do Viet Truong. Photo: Document

The police force will continue to collect documents, consolidate evidence and fight against illegal activities of this organization according to the provisions of the Law on Religious Beliefs and Vietnamese law. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, it will be handled according to the provisions of the law, including not excluding criminal prosecution for acts causing serious consequences.

However, to prevent and stop the activities and development of this organization, in the coming time, political and social organizations and functional forces need to do a good job of propaganda so that people are aware, vigilant, self-protective, do not listen to, do not believe, and do not participate in this organization.

Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code (effective from January 1, 2018) stipulates:

1. Anyone who abuses the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of belief, religion, freedom of assembly, association and other democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals shall be subject to a warning, non-custodial reform for up to 03 years or imprisonment from 06 months to 03 years.

2. Committing a crime that negatively affects social security, order and safety shall be punishable by imprisonment from 02 to 07 years.

Dinh Hop

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phap-luat/hoi-thanh-cua-duc-chua-troi-me-bai-cuoi-som-nhan-dien-va-phong-tranh/187091.htm