Work of Church in Cuba ignored overseas, says leading dissident

Americas
Work of Church in Cuba ignored overseas, says leading dissident

Havana, Jan 23, 2008 / 02:01 pm (CNA).- The president of the Christian
Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya Sardinas, said this week that outside
of Cuba, the true work that the Church does for the Cuban people is unknown.

"The Church is playing a key role in the evangelization and in aid to
the poor, not only economically but also in a human and moral plane as
well. I would like to clarify that, as a Catholic, I can only speak of
the Church in third person. Our local Church has suffered persecutions
and de-Christianization in very difficult circumstances, but she has
always been faithful to the Gospel, to the Church and to the Cuban
people. This is a reality that is often ignored by international public
opinion," Paya told the Italian daily L'Opinione.

On the other hand, in referring to the state of the dissidents and
political prisoners, he explained that the Christian Liberation Movement
has presented a document to the National Assembly calling for "amnesty
for all politicians who are not stained by acts of violence." However,
he warned that Cuba is facing "a time of tension and very grave danger,"
as "a harsh repression against our collaborators is underway."

"A good portion of the members of the Varela Project are in prison
solely because of their demands for greater rights in the country.
Currently, a portion is detained in terrible conditions, in shared
prison cells. With this document that we have sent to the National
Assembly, we call for amnesty and freedom of movement for all of them,
even for them to be able to leave prison," he said.

On the other hand, Paya stressed that the future political model of Cuba
should be decided by a free people, "without expecting a Chinese model
or other systems imposed from above," although he acknowledged that
"today that is not possible."

"Our proposal seeks national reconciliation, which can only be achieved
through the recognition of the dignity of the person. We are not pseudo
human beings, but rather children of God," he said. "We want to build a
more just society, with greater economic freedoms, without falling into
pure commercialism," he added.

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