US Bishops call for end to ban on travel to Cuba
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Congress to pass
legislation that would end travel restrictions to Cuba and encourage
more contact between Cuban and American citizens.
In a letter sent to Rep Charles B Rangel of New York, Bishop Thomas G
Wenski of Orlando, Florida, chairman of the US Bishops' Committee on
International Policy, commended Rep Rangel, Rep Jeff Flake of Arizona
and other lawmakers for sponsoring HR 654, a bill that would allow
travel between the US and Cuba.
"The USCCB has for many years consistently called for relaxing the
sanctions against Cuba," Bishop Wenski said. "These policies have
largely failed to achieve greater freedom, democracy and respect for
human life. At the same time, our nation's counterproductive policies
have unnecessarily alienated many in the hemisphere who should be our
friends and allies, and brought needless hardship on the Cuban people.
It continues to be our position that the goals of improving the lives of
the Cuban people and encouraging democracy in Cuba will best be advanced
through more rather than less contact between the Cuban and American
people."
Bishop Wenski described the travel restrictions on Cubans living in the
US as particularly objectionable.
"No one should be prevented from visiting a dying relative or attending
a loved one's funeral simply for having travelled to Cuba once in the
previous three years," he said. "It is an inhumane policy that does no
honour to our country. These most recent restrictions have increasingly
made more difficult and onerous the legitimate travel of academics,
journalists, religious leaders and other U.S. citizens to the island."
Source: USCCB
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