E/CN.4/1999/58/Add.2 page 18 2. Information from the Catholic Church 72. The representatives of the Catholic Church consider that the situation of their community has been characterized, since the 1990 opening, by a gradual evolution made up of both advances and the retention of limitations (as compared with a previous period characterized by a form of persecution and discrimination because the Catholic Church was perceived as being an instrument of Westernization and colonialism). A strong and developing religious practice, particularly among young people, has been observed. This development has been interpreted as resulting both from conditions more favourable to religion and from an inward search for faith to compensate for a very restricted outside social life. 73. While appreciating the scope of this evolution, the Catholic leaders recalled the persistence of limitations ensuring interference by the authorities in internal religious affairs and affecting the religious situation of Catholics, namely: (a) The Catholic Church's programme of activities must be approved by the authorities. Any additional activity that has not been scheduled must form the subject of a declaration to the authorities in the case of a Mass or of their agreement in the case of a meeting of young people; (b) The number of priests is still inadequate because of training difficulties (existence of a numerus clausus and a delay of two years for the authorities to approve the candidates), the need for approval by the authorities of the appointment of priests and the lack of seminaries (application to open two seminaries in Thai Binh and Xuan Loc to relieve those in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and request for the restitution of the Dalat University Seminary, which is the property of the Vatican); (c) The appointment of bishops and archbishops by the Vatican implies the approval of the authorities. The situation has recently eased as a result of negotiations between Hanoi and the Holy See (consultation of the Vietnamese bishops by the Vatican to prepare a list of candidates from which Hanoi makes its selection); (d) Despite a certain amount of development, there are still political and administrative obstacles to the appointment and reassignment of priests; (e) The movement of priests from one diocese to another for religious purposes must be authorized by the authorities; (f) The building and restoration of places of worship must be approved by the authorities. Requests for the restitution of Church property needed for the effective carrying out of religious activities must be made to the authorities; (g) The number of bibles is adequate, but the Catholic Church requests the establishment of a Catholic publishing house separate from the official establishments so as to guarantee freedom to publish religious books and prevent any censorship;