Cablegate: Protestants Build a Seminary in the South

VZCZCXRO0336
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH
DE RUEHHM #0987 2420953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300953Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1386
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0970
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1455

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000987

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL KIRF PGOV VM
SUBJECT: PROTESTANTS BUILD A SEMINARY IN THE SOUTH

(SBU) On August 30, the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam
(SECV) broke ground for a new bible college in HCMC's District
Two. As previewed to Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom
Hanford during a visit earlier in the month (septel), city
officials approved SECV plans to build training and housing
facilities for 200 seminarians. Vice-Chairman Nguyen The Doan
of the national Committee for Religious Affairs flew from Hanoi
to participate in the ceremony along with HCMC and local
officials. In his remarks, the Vice-Chairman emphasized the
commitment of the GVN to promote religious freedom and the
importance of the SECV as a contributing member of Vietnamese
society. SECV officials said that Protestant organizations from
South Korea and the U.S. will help fund the construction of the
five-acre campus.

Winnick

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