A Letter to Cuba’s Bishops

A Letter to Cuba's Bishops / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo
Posted on October 1, 2014
His Excellency, Dionisio García Ibáñez

Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and Cardinal Primate of Cuba

Your Excellency:

Last night I had the opportunity to meet you at a reception in your
honor given by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the papal nuncio to Cuba.
Today I am writing to you regarding several concerns of the Center for a
Free Cuba with the hope that in your role as president of the Cuban
Conference of Catholic Bishops you might forward this letter to your
fellow bishops.

The Center for a Free Cuba is an independent organization that promotes
respect for human rights and the re-establishment of a democratic
government under the rule of law in our beloved Cuba.

The Center considers the evangelization and humanitarian work of the
Church in Cuba to be of utmost importance and has always responded to
the requests of priests and bishops who have approached us. In light of
our strong desire to continue collaborating with the Church, please
allow us to share with Your Excellency the following concerns:

1) It has been reported that there are over three thousand cases of
dengue fever in Cienfuegos. What can you tell us about the causes of
this epidemic and what steps are being taken to counter it? How can we
support the Church to help those affected?

2) As of more than two years ago, two devout Cuban Catholics have been
held prisoner without trial. They were arrested and beaten by State
Security agents as they were preparing to attend the mass celebrated in
Havana by Pope Benedict XVI in March of 2012. Sonia Garro is being held
in the Manto Negro prison. She is not in good health. Her husband, Ramón
Alejandro Muñoz, is being held in the Combinado del Este prison.

Could not the Church urge the authorities to release them, or at least
to put them on trial? We would also greatly appreciate it if the bishops
celebrated a mass on behalf of Sonia and Ramón and all other political
prisoners, as Archbishop Wenski did recently in Miami.

3) It is well known that the regime has intensified its repression of
peaceful opposition figures such as the Ladies in White. Could not the
Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba ask the authorities to cease acts of
repudiation and the excesses of the Rapid Response Brigades for the sake
of peace and national reconciliation? Is there anything that might be
preventing this noble and urgent request?

4) In the [Church sponsored] periodical, Espacio Laical (Secular Space),
there have been articles about the need to encourage a "loyal
opposition." Many ask, loyal to whom or to what? To the regime or to
freedom, democracy and the full dignity of all human beings?
Clarification of this issue would be helpful so that the publication or
the Church is not seen to be branding as "disloyal" anyone not in
agreement with those who for more than half a century have held the
people of Cuba hostage.

Given our great respect for your high office, we would very much
appreciate your comments on the concerns we have outlined in this letter.

In extending this cordial and patriotic message to Your Excellency, as
well as to the other bishops of our forlorn homeland, we evoke the
memory of the historic visit of His Holiness, St. John Paul II, who
urged all of us to be "valiant in truth, bold in freedom, constant in
responsibility, generous in love, invincible in hope."

Respectfully yours,

On behalf of the Center for a Free Cuba

Guillermo Marmol, businessman and civic leader

Filiberto Agusti, Esq., attorney and legal counsel for the Center for a
Free Cuba

Dr. Néstor Carbonell Cortina, businessman, intellectual and civic leader

Ellis E. Briggs, former United States ambassador to Portugal, Panama and
Honduras

Beatriz Casals, businesswoman, intellectual and civic leader

Prof. Carlos Eire, Yale University

Dr. Sergio Díaz Briquets, international advisor

Prof. Jaime Suchlicki, University of Miami

José Sorzano, former United States ambassador to the United Nations

Prof. Enrico Mario Santí, University of Kentucky

Otto J. Reich, former United States ambassador to Venezuela

Joaquín P. Pujol, economist, former assistant director of the
International Monetary Fund and member of the Association for the Study
of the Cuban Economy

Victor J. Pujals, P.E., professional engineer and civic leader

Robert A. O'Brien, businessman, civic leader and philanthropist

Frank Calzon, executive director for the Center for a Free Cuba
[frank.calzon@cubacenter.org]

Posted to this blog:
25 September 2014

Source: A Letter to Cuba's Bishops / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo |
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/a-letter-to-cubas-bishops-orlando-luis-pardo-lazo/