In the last 30 years or so, Vietnam has eased up on its persecution of priests and monks, as long as they don't make political statements. There are many new churches and Buddhist temples in Vietnam.
The Khmer Rouge blew up Phnom Penh's beautiful Catholic cathedral. They killed thousands of priests and monks. There aren't many Christians in Cambodia, but this tiny church I ran into has hundreds like it in Cambodia.
The Catholic church in Pakse has a well attended weekday service and a mass on Sunday. In Vietnam, churches routinely overflow on Sunday. In Vung Tau, I could hear church bells at dawn every morning.
In Chanthaburi, Thailand, there's a gorgeous Catholic church built by Vietnamese.
I've seen Protestant churches in Southeast Asia too.
In Malaysia, I stayed with a Chinese couple whose wife was a very devout Christian.
Singapore has freedom of religion.
There are no real issues with being a Christian in Southeast Asia. The Pope won't be welcomed in Vietnam, though.
3 comments:
Are Christians treated well in the areas of SE Asia you've been?
Hi WayWay,
In the last 30 years or so, Vietnam has eased up on its persecution of priests and monks, as long as they don't make political statements. There are many new churches and Buddhist temples in Vietnam.
The Khmer Rouge blew up Phnom Penh's beautiful Catholic cathedral. They killed thousands of priests and monks. There aren't many Christians in Cambodia, but this tiny church I ran into has hundreds like it in Cambodia.
The Catholic church in Pakse has a well attended weekday service and a mass on Sunday. In Vietnam, churches routinely overflow on Sunday. In Vung Tau, I could hear church bells at dawn every morning.
In Chanthaburi, Thailand, there's a gorgeous Catholic church built by Vietnamese.
I've seen Protestant churches in Southeast Asia too.
In Malaysia, I stayed with a Chinese couple whose wife was a very devout Christian.
Singapore has freedom of religion.
There are no real issues with being a Christian in Southeast Asia. The Pope won't be welcomed in Vietnam, though.
Linh
P.S. Christians are treated much better in S.E. Asia than in Israel, that's for sure.
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