Rep. Lofgren Issues Statement on Vietnamese Religious Liberties

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) met with a group parishioners from the Diocese of San José, California and agreed to make efforts on behalf of Catholics in Vietnam. She released the following statement in response to recent accounts that Vietnamese Catholics have held numerous demonstrations for religious liberty in Hanoi.

The regime in Hanoi must take firm and concrete action to prevent further religious and human rights violations against the Archdiocese of Hanoi and the Catholic faithful in Vietnam. The time has come for the government of Vietnam to recognize the right of religious groups to practice their faiths free of harassment and oppression. For far too long, people of faith have suffered under Hanoi’s repressive and brutal rule.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is serving her seventh term in Congress representing most of the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. She serves as Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. She also Chairs the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and serves on the House Homeland Security Committee. Congresswoman Lofgren is Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation consisting of 34 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California.