Vietnam Protestants to get thousands more BiblesHANOI, Vietnam — The communist authorities in Vietnam have granted official permission for 25,000 Bibles to be printed and distributed to the Protestant churches. The news, which has been warmly welcomed by the Rev Fergus Macdonald, UBS General Secretary, was received from the Rev Le Cao Quy, the UBS Representative in Vietnam. The last permit, granted in 1998, allowed 50,000 Bibles to be printed and distributed, most of which were taken up very quickly. Since then Mr Quy has been hoping to obtain a further permit. Vietnam’s Protestant population is estimated at nearly 800,000 – five times the size it was 25 years ago. The Roman Catholic community numbers around 5.6 million. (WR 362/7 - 09.01) e-156 [PHOTOS] |