The Continuing Struggle for the Soul of Cuba

Catholic World Report ^ | 4/5/12 | Jordan Allott

[marshmallow]

In the wake of Pope Benedict's visit, Cuban Catholics express frustration and anger as the Castro regime continues political repression and religious persecution.

A day before Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to Cuba on March 26, I was in Arroyo Naranjo, one of Havana’s poorest areas, meeting with Lilvio Fernandez Luis, a Catholic and the leader of JACU, or Joventud Activa Cuba Unida. Lilvio spent the day showing me the life he has worked hard to create—a life built on a strong family and the courage to fight against the repression that the Cuban government has inflicted on its people for more than 53 years.

When I spoke with him, Lilvio wasn’t planning to attend the papal Mass at the Plaza de Revolution in the center of Havana on March 28. “I will attend Mass here at my home parish of St. Barbara just two blocks away,” he explained. “If I try and leave my neighborhood on the day of the Mass, I will most likely be detained by state security.”

Lilvio’s situation was not unique. Although the Church’s goal was to reach out to the Cuban people during Pope Benedict’s visit, many individuals and families found it difficult or impossible to participate in the three days of events organized by the Cuban Catholic Church and Vatican with permission from the island’s Communist government. Despite the government’s limitations, however, Lilvio and almost everyone I talked to during my time in Havana believed the Pope’s trip would be a positive spiritual experience, if not a positive political experience, for the people of Cuba.

Throughout the past five decades, the Communist government of Fidel and Raul Castro has consistently repressed institutions and organizations not under their strict control. Soon after the 1959 revolution, Fidel Castro declared Cuba an atheistic state and reduced the........

[Kenny Bunk]

A facet of the Fidelista Regime that goes unreported is that the Cuban Communists have very consciously used RACE to reinforce state power. The "white" Cuban population,i.e, those of "European" blood, and recent or fairly recent European immigration have left, leaving Afro-Cubans in the majority.

The army and other organs of the state have become largely Afro-Cuban operations, and many newly empowered Afro-Cubans are in possession of properties left behind by the exiles. This will work as intended to make the transition to any sort of free government, or the return of exiles very difficult.

These lessons are not lost on Leftist regimes in our own country.