Catholic Bishops Ask Bush to Lift Cuba Restrictions to Help Hurricane Relief
Washington DC, Sep 11, 2008 (CNA).- Cardinal Francis George, speaking as
President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has asked
the U.S. government to lift its ban on remittances and travel to Cuba in
a Wednesday letter to President George W. Bush.
"In light of the devastation and humanitarian disaster caused by recent
hurricanes in Cuba and the efforts of extended families, friends and
organizations to reach those in need, I urge you to suspend – even
temporarily - Treasury and Commerce Department restrictions and
licensing requirements for humanitarian travel and remittances by
American citizens and assistance by not-for-profit organizations,"
Cardinal George wrote.
"At times of crisis, there are simple and basic acts of charity on which
people rely," he continued.
Saying the United States can be "rightly proud" of its tradition of
humanitarian assistance, the cardinal urged that everything be done to
facilitate relief efforts, whether through private donations or
organizations like Catholic Relief Services.
"Removing restrictions on remittances and travel to Cuba are a necessary
step which I urge you to take without delay," Cardinal George wrote.
Blair Jones with the White House Media Affairs office referred CNA to
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent comments concerning the
restrictions on Cuba. During a Sunday appearance with Moroccan Foreign
Minister Fassi Fihri, Secretary Rice said:
"The President made a very forward-leaning speech on Cuba that -- a
couple of years ago, actually -- that made clear that the United States
would be responsive to a Cuban regime that was prepared to release
political prisoners, have a process to get to free and fair elections,
and that the United States would be open to that regime. But we have
seen nothing that suggests that that has come about."
"What we cannot do is to have the transfer of power from one dictatorial
regime to another. That is not acceptable in a Western hemisphere that
is democratic, and it is not acceptable for the Cuban people. And so, I
don't think that, in the context that we see now, that a lifting of the
embargo would be wise."
Jones also provided to CNA a U.S. State Department "fact sheet" on
humanitarian assistance to Cuba.
The September 9 fact sheet says that the U.S. is providing $100,000 in
emergency assistance to non-government organizations (NGOs) engaging in
relief work in response to the hurricanes. Following Hurricane Gustav,
the government has increased existing authorizations for U.S.-based NGOs
to provide larger amounts of humanitarian assistance "to help address
the basic needs of the Cuban people."
The U.S. government reportedly will expedite applications for
humanitarian assistance of up to $10 million per NGO, "subject to
appropriate restrictions."
The fact sheet encourages individuals and organizations to provide cash
donations to "reputable humanitarian assistance organizations that are
licensed to send humanitarian aid to Cuba."
According to the U.S. State Department, the American people are the
largest suppliers of humanitarian aid to Cuba, sending $240.7 million in
private assistance in 2007.
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