Catholic priest’s religious, secular writings published

HCM CITY — A HCM City publisher released a collection of essays on spiritual and temporal issues, patriotism, and society by a famous Catholic priest on Tuesday.
Thao Thuc (Sleeplessness) is a compilation of works by Jean Baptist Bui Tuan, a former bishop of Long Xuyen in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang, who is well-known in Viet Nam and abroad for his profound writing on both religious and secular life and relations between Catholics and others.
The book published by Tong Hop Publishing Co is a collection of Tuan’s writings appearing over a period of time in Cong Giao&Dan Toc (Catholicism&The Nation), a magazine published by the HCM City Committee for Catholic Solidarity.
The function in Long Xuyen to launch the book – on his 80th birthday – was attended by over 300 priests and representatives of An Giang Province’s Committee for Religious Affairs and the Fatherland Front committees of many delta provinces.
Tuan started writing many decades ago even while he was a student at Long Xuyen Seminary. He wrote mainly about patriotism and people’s responsibilities and obligations towards family and society.
"My writings are not intended just for Catholics but for all people with good will," he said.
Despite his old age and poor health, Tuan still writes every day. His writings, in plain and succinct style and on issues concerning ordinary life, have always evoked a warm response in readers at home and abroad.
Tong Hop Publishing Co received orders for over 2,000 copies at the release function.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called Tuan two days before the ceremony and spoke about the relationship between politics and religion.
"[He] also spoke to me about the relations between the State and Vietnamese Catholic Church and between Viet Nam and the Vatican," Tuan said.
Tuan became the bishop of Long Xuyen on April 30, 1975, the day that south Viet Nam was liberated. He retired five years ago. — VNS