Government Organizes First National Interfaith Meeting

Posted: 9th March 2008

PHNOM PENH (UCAN) -- Around 600 leaders and other delegates representing 42 religions, sects or religious communities residing and working in Cambodia came together for the country's first-ever national interfaith meeting.

The government's Cult and Religious Ministry organized the Feb. 20 meeting at Chakto Mok Conference Hall in Phnom Penh to urge the religious leaders to work together in a spirit of cooperation and unity.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, who presided at the meeting, praised the leaders for contributing to the country and encouraged them to continue their work.

Religious organizations and individuals in Cambodia "have actively joined forces in the fields of development, peace and safety," he said. "To effectively promote and practice religious harmony," he advised, religious organizations should "avoid conflicts with the nation."

Kun Hang, an official of the religion ministry, stressed the importance of living together in harmony in Cambodian society. Hang also reported on the state of religion in Cambodia, where he said 20 sects, and 22 religious associations and NGOs officially conduct activities.

More than 95 percent of Cambodia's approximately 14 million people belong to Ter Viet (Theravada) Buddhism, the state religion. Its two sects in the country -- Mohanikay and Thammayut -- have 55,583 monks and 4,307 pagodas, Hang reported.

The 320,167 Islamic believers in Cambodia have 277 mosques and 333 surav, he added. A surav is a prayer venue smaller and less formal than a mosque.

Christianity has many branches and faces in Cambodia, Hang noted, saying the Catholic Church has 25 churches and 52 other prayer venues with 18,584 members in all. Other Christian Churches or denominations account for 193 churches and 1,434 other places of prayer that accommodate 155,207 believers.

Other beliefs represented include Mahayana Buddhism, which has 90 temples and 22 smaller prayer places; Barhoi (Bahai), with seven prayer venues; and Toaday (Cao Dai, a sect founded in Vietnam), with two places for prayer. Barhoi followers number 6,300 members and Toaday has 2,959 ethnic Vietnamese followers.

During the meeting the religious organizations publicized their social services, histories, rules, doctrines and objectives. Individual representatives presented their activities, services and interests.

Thirty Catholics attended the meeting. They included three Church officials based in the capital as well as nine representatives each from Phnom Penh vicariate, and Battambang and Kompong Cham prefectures. They comprised 22 laypeople, four priests, two bishops and two nuns.

Vong Thim, a 29-year-old Catholic from Kompong Thom, found it meaningful for the various religions in Cambodia to come together and share about themselves. "We can get to know one another better," he said. "When we know each other, we can understand each other, and build peace and harmony among religions living side by side."

Sem Kit, also from Kompong Thom, in Battambang prefecture, likewise expected this first meeting would "help all religious understand each other better."

She told UCA News: "Sometimes in the village and local communities, people lack understanding. Sometimes they discriminate against each other. Even community leaders humiliate each other. How can we live together in harmony?" She expressed the hope that after this meeting there will be increased cooperation and love.

A nine-point statement religious leaders endorsed at the meeting thanked the prime minister "for his sympathy, generosity and support, which allow religious freedom for Cambodian people."

They declared their respect and support for Buddhism as the state religion; respect for Khmer traditions, culture and morality; and adherence to laws, and government regulations and policies for the sake of peace, safety and the rule of law.

They also pledged cooperation and solidarity among religions, and to practice their own religion with compassion and charity, without interfering with other religions.

The statement emphasized respect for an individual's free religious beliefs and commitment to improve people's standard of living without pressuring them to change their religion in return.

Article Source: UCAN