Silence in Parish About Cardinal’s Pastoral Letter

By Miguel Galbán, Comisión Cuba (Cuba's Commission)

Güines, March 9, 2003 (www.cubanet.org) - Hundreds of parishioners who attended this Sunday Saint Julián's Parish Church in the Havana Municipality of Güines,during morning hours, were astonished when the Parish Priest of such congregation—belonging to the Archdiocese of Havana—did not mention the pastoral letter entitled There is No Country Without Virtue.

Marta Ida Horta, Director of the Center for Freedom and Democracy and a source of information, stated that the town’s church remained closed during the week. The Priest of this congregation Silvano Pedroso, did not mention the text published this Monday in the City of Havana, by His Eminence Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino.

On the 150th anniversary of the death of Father Félix Varela, the text There is No Country Without Virtue was made public so a lot of Catholics converged this Sunday, interested in knowing about the pastoral message. This situation generated multiple questions among hundreds of parishioners.

Deacons, laypersons and Parish personnel looking for reasons, said they did not know the motives for this censorship. Ida Horta added that it is traditional for the Catholic clergy to avoid reprisals from local political authorities or any fact that could provoke party militants and agents of the political police.

Members of the opposition in this locality and its surrounding area, delivered photocopies of the pastoral letter to many laypersons and several deacons after the end of the religious activity.