Catholic Priest Jailed - Christians in Hanoi clearly feel that progress has been made. 'My parents had some difficulties in the past,' said 22-year-old Do Duy Nghin, one of Vietnam's six million Catholics. 'People they knew were banned from going to church at one point, and some priests were even jailed. 'But now I feel free and comfortable to worship the way I want.' It appears that the days when the Communist authorities attached a stigma to religion are now over. People walk freely in and out of churches and Buddhist temples - some of which have been newly built in the last few years - and believers openly wear pendants and carry other symbols of their faith. But critics say the authorities continue to restrict the activities of any religious organisations deemed to be at odds with state policy. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, 'severe restrictions on religious freedom and abuses continue,' with 'forced renunciations of faith' taking place in some areas. In a statement expressing her disagreement with Washington's decision to remove Vietnam from its blacklist, commission chairwoman Felice Gaer said the government remained 'highly suspicious' of certain groups from the rural highlands. These groups include the ethnic minority Protestants from Montagnard and Hmong communities, as well as the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV).