Cuba’s Catholic Church and Its Detractors

Cuba's Catholic Church and Its Detractors
June 1, 2012
By Vicente Morin Aguado


HAVANA TIMES — Days before the expected visit to Cuba by Pope Benedict
XVI in late March, a group of people without any special political
affiliation occupied the "Basilica of Our Lady of Charity" in Havana,
trying to remain in the church like asylum-seekers in an embassy.

At the same time, they demanded to present a list of demands to the Pope.

The Cuban Catholic Church didn't accept the idea of a prolonged stay in
the temple. According to the authorities, the occupants were "invited to
leave by the police," who didn't threaten to formally charge them.

Upon being removed from the temple, they were taken to the nearest
police station and subsequently returned to their homes.

The Pope came, held two Masses with massive public attendance, and
returned to the Vatican. A letter was recently sent from the Holy See to
Cuban President Raul Castro, from which I quote:

"I wish to express my thanks for the exquisite hospitality extended to
me during the unforgettable days I spent in your country with a special
remembrance in prayer, imploring the Almighty that Cuba continue
advancing with determination along the paths of freedom, solidarity and
harmony for the common good and a straight line of progress for all of
its sons and daughters."

"Freedom, solidarity, harmony and common good" – let's not forget the
words of the Bishop of Rome. Now it's good to remember precedents, for
forgetful minds, which seem to question what they know full well in advance.

The preceding year, Cuba went through the release of all of its
"prisoners of conscience," a process in which the Catholic Church served
as a mediator. This should be highlighted, since there wasn't any
negotiation between, say, prisoners and family members on one side and
the government on the other.

Obviously, not wanting to talk directly — since the offer was unilateral
— the Church was the intermediary.

Also visiting Cuba during that period was the then foreign minister of
Spain, Miguel Angel Moratinos. The prisoners were slowly emerging from
prison, most traveling to Madrid, others to Washington, and a few
(around 12 from what I understand) deciding to stay in Cuba.

It is an irrefutable truth that the Spanish foreign ministry demanded
formal statements from the released prisoners about traveling to his
country or any other nation saying there departures were completely
voluntary.

Once again an "eagle flew over the sea," as the current Pope made his
Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre pilgrimage across the country, traveling
more than 30,000 miles and being welcomed by millions of Cubans.

Then, before the Pope's arrival, several people tried to take over the
temple located in the Centro Havana neighborhood, a church specially
dedicated to the patroness of Cuba (La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre).

Certainly churches aren't embassies in which one can ask for permanent
refuge or political asylum. Likewise, courts are the sole institutions
that have the power to declare people criminals or not, and sentence
according to the punishable offense.

All Catholic churches belong to the same state: the Vatican. Each
country, including this tiny territory, has only one diplomatic
headquarters in any other nation. It's not often that the offer is made
to exercise the "right of asylum," which requires a serious analysis
before it is granted.

This is reiterative, but it's necessary to repeat that the Cuban
Catholic Church is not a party of the opposition. On this matter
Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega Alamino has said:

"The Cuban state does not have an ally or an enemy in the Church. The
Church doesn't expect any privileges. In any case, for itself, the
recognition of its right to freely fulfill its mission."

What are the opponents demanding from the current government when they
say or imply that the Catholic Church in Cuba is in agreement with the
Communist Party or that it works for it?

Throughout the drawn-out process of the release of Cuban political
prisoners, which took months and involved more than a hundred of them,
neither the secular nor ecclesiastical authorities of the country nor
the foreign diplomats heard any complaints about pressures being applied
against those individuals on their way to freedom.

It was a difficult moment, but the history of Cuba reveals several
similar situations where those engaged in struggle felt their dignity
affected in some way and they expressed their disagreement without fear
of possible reprisals. I won't cite cases, preferring not to offend
anyone. Like the popular saying goes: What we know, we don't question.

Regarding the Church's position on Cuba, nothing has changed in the past
fourteen years since, when before boarding his plane, Pope John Paul II
said:

"All Cubans are called upon to contribute to the common good in a
climate of mutual respect and with a deep sense of solidarity."

Yet for now, the debate remains regarding certain controversial
expressions made by Cardinal Jaime Ortega. Days will come and with them
new clarities. Yet there's one thing I'm sure about right now: God's law
doesn't allow cheating.

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