Reading the Independent article on-line about the Cuban gentleman who spoke about the church in Cuba, my blood began to boil. He stated as fact many things that are simply not true from the perspective of those inside the church in Cuba.
A bit of background is important: To get any outside aid – which was vitally necessary when the US pulled out of Cuba and imposed the embargo, the Soviet Union came to the aid of Cuba. One of the Soviet’s requirements was that Castro put in an anti-church clause into the Constitution. When the Soviet Union fell and Cuba was “free” from their dictates, Castro has been far more open to the church and the churches are growing. He himself was educated by Jesuits and has implemented the kind of equality for all, excessive privilege for none that the Gospel proclaims. He is / was also committed to education (Cuba has a 97+% literacy rate), medical care for all, and many of the things the church and Jesus proclaim as important.
As a United Methodist pastor for 30+ years – in Chicago, Maine, and Massachusetts, I’ve watched our denomination work with people in Cuba, learn from some of their ways, and I’ve taught about Cuba in our United Methodist Women School of Christian Mission. Many if not most of the people who left Cuba did so because they did not like the new way of life after the Revolution that took away some of their privilege and asked them to share their wealth with the poor. Cuba may not now have the wealthy who lavish in the excess and leisure that they once enjoyed. But neither does it have the poverty that my churches in the US have seen on our streets and have tried to respond to here. There is no need in Cuba for a church to open a Free Health Clinic as my church is looking toward right now because Cubans receive health care. Many in my community do not have health insurance and therefore need our clinic.
60% of the parishioners in the growing churches in Cuba are young people under the age of 25. These are young people who want to worship and find a welcoming clergy to encourage them. I wish such were the case in our country, in our cities, and in our communities of all sizes.
I offer my perspective, as does your speaker. But I cannot let his voice be the only one you hear.
Rev. Marilyn Robb, pastorUnited Methodist Church of WoburnWoburn MA (just ouside of Boston)Formerly pastor of: Parish of the Holy Covenant925 W. Diversey, Chicago, IL