Faced with growing pressure from the Trump Administration and the statements issued in response to Washington by the Cuban Government, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) warned about the “risk of social chaos” on the island and advocated for dialogue “to resolve disagreements.”
In a message published this Saturdayaddressed to “all Cubans of good will,” the COCC recalled his statement from last Junein which he called to “change the course” of the “painful and pressing reality” of the country, and regretted that, far from improving, the situation has gotten worse.
“Unfortunately, the situation has worsened and anguish and hopelessness have worsened. The recent news, which announces, among others, the elimination of any possibility of oil entering the country, triggers alarms, especially for the less fortunate,” the Conference notes.
The Cuban bishops consider that, in this scenario, “the risk of social chaos and violence between the children of the same people is real” and pointed out that “no Cuban of good will would be happy about it.”
“Cuba needs changes and they are increasingly urgent, but it does not need more anguish or pain at all. No more blood or more mourning in Cuban families. We have had too much in our recent history!” they said in their message.
The religious claim to long for “a renewed, prosperous and happy Cuba, but without increasing the suffering of the poor, the elderly, the sick, and the Cuban children” and thanked the solidarity of people, governments and institutions with those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Dialogue and diplomacy
Appealing to the position of the Holy See and International Law, although without directly mentioning Washington and Havana, the COCC advocates that Governments resolve “their disagreements and conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, not coercion or war.”
“Men, speaking, understand each other,” the ecclesiastical declaration states, adding that “as long as there is good will, it is possible to find ways to resolve conflicts and seek the triumph of truth and good, justice, love and freedom.”
Furthermore, the Conference of Bishops affirms that “respect for the dignity and exercise of freedom of each human being within one’s own nation cannot be subordinated or conditioned to the variables of external conflicts.”
“On multiple occasions, history has shown that an environment of healthy plurality and reciprocal respect within a country is precisely what has contributed, and not a little, to détente and fruitful exchange at the international level,” the religious message states.
Paraphrasing Saint John Paul II, the COCC calls for “the world to open to Cuba,” but for Cuba to open to its own people, to all Cubans, without exclusions or strategies that seek to favor only some.”
“For this,” the declaration asserts, “it is necessary to put the good of Cuba above the interests of one party. A great soul is needed, like José Martí, when he dreamed and worked for the Homeland to be ‘With all and for the good of all.'”
Mediation offer
In their message, the bishops affirmed that the Catholic Church will continue to accompany the Cuban people in their religious mission and “serving the poor, the sick, the families, the prisoners.”
In turn, they offered their availability “to, if requested, contribute to lowering the tone of hostilities between parties and creating spaces for fruitful collaboration for the common good.”
Citing the words of Pope Leo
Finally, the bishops invoked the Virgin of Charity, “Mother of the Cuban people.”
“May, through his intercession, the “hour of Love” arrive for us. May good sense and sanity prevail over threats, discord and positions that seem irreconcilable. So that all the sons and daughters of this land can live in peace, dignity and happiness here. We pray that God bless Cuba,” they concluded their message.
