Líderes religiosos cubanos terminaron una visita a Washington, DC la semana pasada con la publicación de una declaración conjunta denominada " Treinta Preguntas para el gobierno cubano " . Reverendo Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso , Misionario Yoaxis Marcheco Suárez y Apóstol Omar Gude Pérez redactó el comunicado y las preguntas que dicen demostrar que la libertad de religión o de convicciones no se respeta en Cuba .
Los miembros del grupo, que representan a la vez una organización religiosa legalmente reconocida histórica y un movimiento religioso nuevo considerado por el gobierno cubano que es ilegal, pasaron una semana en Washington , DC, en una visita facilitado por Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW ) . Se reunieron con los responsables políticos y organizaciones no gubernamentales para informarles sobre la continuación violaciónes de la libertad de religión o de creencia en Cuba .
La declaración y las preguntas se describen los problemas más urgentes planteados por el grupo , incluido el continuo rechazo del gobierno de extender el reconocimiento oficial a grupos religiosos nuevos , la aprobación o denegación de los derechos legales de grupos registrados con base en el apoyo y la cooperación política percibida , y la autoridad de barrido sobre las organizaciones religiosas y las actividades realizadas por la Oficina de Asuntos Religiosos ( ORA ) del Comité central del Partido Comunista de Cuba. El grupo señaló que las detenciones en masa durante la visita del Papa Benedicto XVI y las nuevas restricciones, incluyendo un decreto que a partir de enero de 2014, las iglesias y los grupos religiosos ya no será capaz de mantener cuentas bancarias individuales y las cuentas existentes , estén consolidadas en una sola por denominación u organización como prueba de que el gobierno no está interesado en verdaderas reformas que protejan la libertad de religión o de creencias.
Misionero Marcheco , un blogger y profesor de la Manuel González Peña Luis Seminario Teológico Bautista , también señaló a la excesiva intromisión del gobierno en los asuntos internos de las organizaciones religiosas , señalando que las actas y decisiones de cada reunión interna deben ser entregados a la aprobación del ORA . Apóstol Gude Pérez , líder nacional del creciente grupo de la iglesia carismática rápida del Movimiento Apostólico , expresó su frustración por el continuo acoso de las iglesias afiliadas a su grupo, supuestamente debido a su estado no registrado, a manos de los mismos funcionarios que han negado su repetida intenta registrarse .
Mientras que el grupo estaba compuesto por los líderes protestantes , estaban dispuestos a señalar que otros grupos, como los católicos y los grupos religiosos afrocubanos sufren los mismos abusos , y levantó el caso de los Testigos de Jehová como un ejemplo de un grupo que sufre particularmente severa persecución .
De CSW Superior Abogado Matthew Jones dijo: " CSW fue privilegiado para facilitar la visita de los tres líderes religiosos a Cuba la semana pasada y sigue impresionado por su coraje y persistencia en hablar de impugnar las reclamaciones de Raúl Castro de que la libertad religiosa es respetada en la Cuba . Pedimos a la comunidad internacional a escuchar su petición de presión sobre el régimen para hacer cambios fundamentales para garantizar la protección de los derechos humanos fundamentales , incluida la libertad de religión o de creencias. Un primer paso debe ser la eliminación de la Oficina de Asuntos Religiosos del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba y el establecimiento de un marco jurídico para proteger la libertad de religión o de creencias de todos, sin discriminación por cualquier motivo. Estamos particularmente preocupados por el anuncio de que las cuentas bancarias individuales de la iglesia serán eliminados a finales de año, y las confesiones religiosas limitados a una sola cuenta , ya que esto hará que sea mucho más fácil para el gobierno para ejercer presión sobre los grupos religiosos enteros " .
Cuban religious leaders finished a visit to Washington, DC last week by publishing a joint declaration called “Thirty Questions for the Cuban Government”. Reverend Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso, Missionary Yoaxis Marcheco Suarez and Apostle Omar Gude Perez drafted the statement and questions which they say show that freedom of religion or belief is not respected in Cuba.
The members of the group, who represent both a legally recognized, historic religious organisation and a newer religious movement considered by the Cuban government to be illegal, spent a week in Washington, DC in a visit facilitated by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). They met with policy makers and NGOs to brief them on continued violations of freedom of religion or belief in Cuba.
The declaration and questions outline the most pressing concerns raised by the group, including the government’s continued refusal to extend official recognition to newer religious groups, the approval or denial of legal rights to registered groups based on perceived political support and cooperation, and the sweeping authority over religious organisations and activities held by the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. The group pointed to mass arrests during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI and new restrictions, including a decree that as of January 2014, churches and religious groups will no longer be able to hold individual bank accounts and existing accounts must be consolidated into one per denomination or organisation as proof that the government is not interested in true reforms that would protect freedom of religion or belief.
Missionary Marcheco, a blogger and professor at the Luis Manuel Gonzalez Peña Baptist Theological Seminary, also pointed to excessive government intrusiveness into the internal affairs of religious organisations, pointing out that the minutes and decisions of every internal meeting must be turned over for the approval of ORA. Apostle Gude Perez, a national leader of the fast growing charismatic church group the Apostolic Movement, expressed frustration at the continued harassment of churches affiliated with his group, supposedly because of their unregistered status, at the hands of the same officials who have denied their repeated attempts to register.
While the group was composed of Protestant leaders, they were keen to point out that other groups, including Catholics and Afro-Cuban religious groups suffer the same abuses, and held up the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an example of a group that suffers particularly severe persecution.
CSW’s Senior Advocate Matthew Jones said, “CSW was privileged to facilitate the visit of these three religious leaders to Cuba last week and continues to be impressed by their courage and persistence in speaking out to challenge the claims of Raul Castro that religious freedom is respected in Cuba. We ask the international community to listen to their request for pressure on the regime to make fundamental changes to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. A first step should be the elimination of the Office of Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and the establishment of a legal framework to protect the freedom of religion or belief of all, without discrimination for any reason. We are particularly concerned at the announcement that individual church bank accounts will be eliminated by the end of the year, and religious denominations limited to only one account, as this will make it much easier for the government to exert pressure over entire religious groups.”
Cuban religious leaders finished a visit to Washington, DC last week by publishing a joint declaration called “Thirty Questions for the Cuban Government”. Reverend Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso, Missionary Axis Marcheco Suarez and Apostle Omar Gude Perez drafted the statement and questions which they say show that freedom of religion or belief is not respected in Cuba. The members of the group, who represent both a legally recognized, historic religious organisation and a newer religious movement considered by the Cuban government to be illegal, spent a week in Washington, DC in a visit facilitated by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). They met with policy makers and NGOs to brief them on continued violations of freedom of religion or belief in Cuba. The declaration and questions outline the most pressing concerns raised by the group, including the government’s continued refusal to extend official recognition to newer religious groups, the approval or denial of legal rights to registered groups based on perceived political support and cooperation, and the sweeping authority over religious organisations and activities held by the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. The group pointed to mass arrests during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI and new restrictions, including a decree that as of January 2014, churches and religious groups will no longer be able to hold individual bank accounts and existing accounts must be consolidated into one per denomination or organisation as proof that the government is not interested in true reforms that would protect freedom of religion or belief. Missionary Marcheco, a blogger and professor at the Luis Manuel Gonzalez Peña Baptist Theological Seminary, also pointed to excessive government intrusiveness into the internal affairs of religious organisations, pointing out that the minutes and decisions of every internal meeting must be turned over for the approval of ORA. Apostle Gude Perez, a national leader of the fast growing charismatic church group the Apostolic Movement, expressed frustration at the continued harassment of churches affiliated with his group, supposedly because of their unregistered status, at the hands of the same officials who have denied their repeated attempts to register. While the group was composed of Protestant leaders, they were keen to point out that other groups, including Catholics and Afro-Cuban religious groups suffer the same abuses, and held up the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an example of a group that suffers particularly severe persecution. CSW’s Senior Advocate Matthew Jones said, “CSW was privileged to facilitate the visit of these three religious leaders to Cuba last week and continues to be impressed by their courage and persistence in speaking out to challenge the claims of Raul Castro that religious freedom is respected in Cuba. We ask the international community to listen to their request for pressure on the regime to make fundamental changes to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. A first step should be the elimination of the Office of Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and the establishment of a legal framework to protect the freedom of religion or belief of all, without discrimination for any reason. We are particularly concerned at the announcement that individual church bank accounts will be eliminated by the end of the year, and religious denominations limited to only one account, as this will make it much easier for the government to exert pressure over entire religious groups.”
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