Joining hands to maintain security and order in religious communities

Maintaining security and order is not only the duty of the police force but also the sacred responsibility and obligation of every citizen

The Department of Internal Security, Dong Nai Provincial Police coordinates to implement the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses in Dinh Quan commune. Photo: Pham Hue

In particular, the close cooperation and coordination between government and religious dignitaries and officials, along with the people’s spirit of “living a good life and following a beautiful religion”, have become an important fulcrum for building great national unity bloc, thereby creating a solid foundation for socio-economic development in Dong Nai in recent years.

Peace in religious communities

After the administrative merger, Dong Nai has 43 religious organizations belonging to 11 recognized religions, with more than 3,100 religious dignitaries, over 29,200 religious officials, and more than 2.65 million followers, accounting for about 59% of the population. Building a safe and civilized environment in religious communities is not only a crucial responsibility of the entire political system but also a foundation for strengthening trust, promoting the strength of national solidarity, and working together to maintain peace and develop the locality.

At the ceremony on Sunday morning, August 24, Priest Mai Xuan Huu, Parish Priest of Ngoc Thanh Parish (Dinh Quan commune), not only shared God's words, advising people to live the gospel in the heart of the nation, but also incorporates legal propaganda content for parishioners. The priest reminded parishioners attending the mass to “live a good life and follow a beautiful religion,” and to help maintain security and order through practical daily actions such as complying with traffic laws, keeping the environment clean, staying away from social evils, etc.

In particular, in the lead-up to the National Day on September 2, priest Mai Xuan Huu also encouraged parishioners to engage in recreational and festive activities in a civilized and safe spirit, avoiding excessive eating or gatherings. The aim is to ensure that the joy of the holiday is truly complete and to promote the spirit of solidarity and peace within the community.

To ensure peace in religious communities, at the end of July 2025, the police force, in coordination with the Binh Loc ward authorities and Nui Tung Parish (Binh Loc ward), established the model of “peaceful and orderly parishes and chapels.” The model has seven members, mainly responsible for promoting legal education, coordinating efforts to support disadvantaged families, and participating in movements for solidarity and local development.

Priest Giuse Pham Ngoc Thanh, Parish Priest of Nui Tung Parish, member of the Steering Committee and Head of the model Steering Committee, said that the initiative would cover various activities with the goals of ensuring no lawbreakers, no social evils, and no domestic violence. Conflicts among residents would be resolved at the grassroots level, while efforts would be made to build a joyful and healthy cultural life and to promote the spirit of mutual love and support, sharing, helping each other in times of trouble and difficulty...

In recent times, Vietnamese Buddhism has also regularly coordinated with local authorities to carry out many practical social security activities such as building charity houses, giving gifts to the poor, maintaining the “Kitchen of Love” program... At the same time, it has coordinated with the government and the police force to organize legal propaganda campaigns, raising legal awareness for Buddhists in the area. These activities have contributed to strengthening the solidarity and connection between religion, the government and the people.

“Binh Loc Ward has established the model of “peaceful and orderly parishes and chapels” to promote the role of self-management and self-monitoring in the community, enhancing the self-awareness, creativity and internal strength of the residents, especially the parishioners. Through this model, the locals can accompany the police force in ensuring security and order, controlling crime in the area, preventing social evils, and contributing to local socio-economic development.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Hoang Van Hanh, Chief of Binh Loc Ward Police

Actively building the homeland

Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Ho Nai Ward People's Council Nguyen Quoc Vu stated that Ho Nai Ward is an administrative unit with a relatively large area and a dense population. The security and public order situation has many complex factors, as the ward hosts a concentrated industrial zone with a large number of workers temporarily residing and working in the area. The ward is also home to a large religious community, with nearly 70,000 followers, accounting for 85% of the population, including 25 religious establishments and hundreds of dignitaries, monks and nuns, and religious officials.

In recent times, in implementing the Party’s guidelines and viewpoints and the State’s policies and laws, religious affairs have consistently received attention from the province and have been implemented synchronously. Dignitaries, officials, monks and nuns, and followers have consistently placed their trust in the path of renewal, and are closely attached to and accompany the locality. In particular, the people actively participate in patriotic emulation movements and uphold the principle of “living a good life and following a good religion,” making an important contribution to achieving socio-economic development, maintaining national defense and security, and consolidating the great national unity bloc.

Pham Hong Dong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thong Nhat Commune, stated that the commune is home to five religions, including Catholicism, Buddhism, Cao Dai, Protestantism, and Hoa Hao, with Catholicism accounting for nearly 73% of the population. In recent times, religious dignitaries, officials, monks, and followers have strictly complied with the Party’s guidelines and viewpoints and the State’s policies and laws, actively participating in patriotic emulation movements and agricultural production, contributing to the commune’s ongoing development.

“The parish always pays close attention to coordinating with local authorities and police forces in disseminating the law. I often tell everyone to be good Christians and good citizens, to be responsible to the community, and to strictly comply with the law. If people obey the law, the law will protect them.”

Priest MAI XUAN HUU, Parish Priest of Ngoc Thanh Parish 

Over the past years, religious communities in Thong Nhat commune have joined the local government in donating thousands of square meters of land, supporting billions of dong in building welfare facilities, especially contributing to the construction of new-style rural areas in the area. In addition, religious organizations have actively participated in charitable and humanitarian activities, visiting and giving thousands of gifts to disadvantaged households and elderly people living alone in the commune, with total funding reaching tens of billions of dong.

The joint efforts of religious communities, local authorities, and residents have contributed significantly to maintaining political stability, security and order, and promoting socio-economic development. This endeavor clearly demonstrates the strength of national solidarity, contributing to building a civilized, affectionate and peaceful life in Dong Nai homeland.

By: Pham Hue 

Translated by: Huyen Trang - Thu Ha