Cuba Recognizes Role of Catholic Church

Cuba Recognizes Role of Catholic Church
November 30, 2012

HAVANA TIMES — Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the archbishop of Havana, said
recently at a conference in Germany that the Cuban Catholic Church is
recognized as a legitimate interlocutor by the island's government.

Since 2010 the Church has been in dialogue with the authorities and "not
only with President Raul Castro" on topics such as "the grave economic
situation of the country, and the fears and demands of citizens," but
also "the aspirations and hopes" of Cubans, said the priest.

The religious leader admitted to not knowing "how far the dialogue can
advance or its real scope or potential outcomes." "However," he added,
"dialogue is the only path that the Church must pursue to procure a good
material and spiritual life for society and the Cuban people."

Cuba is immersed in an economic and spiritual or existential crisis,
Ortega said, adding that the process begun in 1959 has not succeeded at
realizing itself, "at least not as expected," where the "Cuban dream"
would meet "the aspirations of the righteous poor of this land."

Nevertheless Ortega said the Catholic Church is encouraging the changes
"timidly taking place" on the island and it hopes that other changes
will be introduced "for the good of the country and its citizens," he added.

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