Officials in Laos view religious freedom and support for Christian churches as good for the country, so long as recognized religions support the state. That’s the encouraging statement from the vice president of the “Front for Construction” in the Laotian government and his associate, who is director of the Ministry of Religion for this southeast Asian nation.

Dr. John Graz, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists led the visiting delegation, and was accompanied by Hiskia Missah, Religious Liberty Director for the Adventist Church in Southeast Asia and Liberty magazine editor Lincoln Steed and other regional religious liberty leaders. The group made a five-day visit to Laos, a communist country that has long resisted granting full freedom of religion.

During the November 20-24 visit, the team visited government leaders and religious groups to assess the present situation of religious freedom, and came away optimistic.

The vice president said “the government of Laos is committed to improving the ability of churches to operate freely.” They cited the Decree on the Administration and Protection of Religious Freedom, issued last year, as a formalization of that intent.

The government commitment to normalizing its attitudes to minority, non-Buddhist religions, was strongly endorsed by a member of the Laotian Congress, Dr. Thongphan Chathalanon, who received the delegation at her National Assembly office. She is chairperson of the Cultural and Social Affairs Committee with oversight of Religious Activities, and said unequivocally ”we will work to support churches and give a legal basis for their existence.”

The team visited with Adventist believers in the capital Viangchan (Vientienne). There are 695 Adventists in Laos. They also met with Catholic leaders and heard guarded optimism that in spite of state appropriation of property, there might be freer times ahead.

The Christian Evangelical movement in Laos is growing rapidly at the moment, with 6,000 members. As many as 60 were imprisoned for their faith in recent years, but all but two have been released. Dr. Kham Phave, leader of the Independent Religious Movement said his outlook is hopeful. He said there were signs of Laotian government readiness to come to international norms, even though it tends to follow the lead of neighbouring Vietnam on many issues. [Editor Lincoln Steed for ANN/APD]