Cuba: Information on the current treatment of Catholics and whether someone in a public enterprise can be demoted because of his or her religious beliefs
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB14089 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Information on the current treatment of Catholics and whether someone in a public enterprise can be demoted because of his or her religious beliefs, 1 May 1993, CUB14089, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acfe2c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the treatment of Catholics in Cuba could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.
In addition to the information provided in previous responses on the subject, please find attached some articles that contain references to Catholics in Cuba. One of the articles refers to the arrest of persons who shouted anti-government slogans at Catholic churches, and a comment by Cuban Catholic bishops protesting the presence of plain-clothes security agents during religious ceremonies (Libération 9 Oct. 1992).
According to the head of the Cuban Committee for Human Rights (Comité Cubano Pro-Derechos Humanos, CCPDH) in Miami, who reportedly maintains frequent communication with sources in Cuba, religion is not currently a critical or highly controversial issue in Cuba (17 May 1993). Although no detailed or accurate study on religious affairs is known to have been carried out in recent years, simple observation suggests that the majority of Cubans do have religious beliefs (Ibid.). The most popular religion may well be the Santería, a mixture of African and Christian rites and beliefs (described in Response to Information Request CUB13116 of 15 February 1993), although the Protestant and Catholic churches do have significant followings. The Catholic Church, however, does not have a following or influence comparable to that in most other Latin American countries (Ibid.).
According to the CCPDH representative, currently there is no direct government aggression against Catholics or the Catholic Church. However, although the government's attitude towards Catholicism and the Catholic Church has been less hostile in recent times, relations between the Catholic Church and the government continue to be tense. The dissident group Liberación, composed mostly of Catholic lay people, has suffered government hostilities and harassment like other dissident groups, but this is likely a result of its advocacy of democratic changes rather than its religious affiliation (Ibid.).
Finally, the head of the CCPDH stated that recent legislative changes have ended the legal discrimination in government against those who have religious affiliations. In practice, however, the source considers it unlikely that a government official would openly associate with a religion, as this would likely not please his or her superiors or peers (Ibid.). The CCPDH head was not aware of any members of the Cuban Communist Party who have becomeat least openly Catholic, nor of any Catholics who have become members of the Communist Party (Ibid.).
Attached please find excerpts from two reports by Americas Watch. One of the reports discusses the case of the group Liberación, describing it as "a small independent group of Catholic lay people which promotes social change and human rights" (Americas Watch 25 Feb. 1991, 16). The other report discusses the Harmony Movement (MAR), whose members apparently gathered in a church, and discusses job dismissal as a form of reprisal against Harmony Movement members and other dissidents (Ibid. 11 Aug. 1991, 5-7).
The other two attachments not cited in the preceding text refer to the legislative change ending discrimination on religious grounds, and humanitarian assistance by a United States inter-religious group which may or may not include Catholics.
Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.
References
Americas Watch. 11 August 1991. News From Americas Watch. "Cuba: Behind a Sporting Facade, Stepped-up Repression." New York: Human Rights Watch.
. 25 February 1991. News From Americas Watch. "Cuba: Attacks Against Independent Associations, March 1990-February 1991." New York: Human Rights Watch.
Cuban Committee for Human Rights (Comité Cubano Pro-Derechos Humanos, CCPDH), Miami. 17 May 1993. Telephone Interview with Head of Organization.
Libération [Paris]. 9 October 1992. "Cuba: Crosses."
Attachments
Americas Watch. 11 August 1991. News From Americas Watch. "Cuba: Behind a Sporting Facade, Stepped-up Repression." New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 5-7.
. 25 February 1991. News From Americas Watch. "Cuba: Attacks Against Independent Associations, March 1990-February 1991." New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 16-17.
Latin American Newsletters. 10 November 1992. Latin American Regional Reports: Caribbean Report. "U.S. Religious Groups Defiant on Aid to Cuba." London: Latin American Newsletters, p. 8.
.23 July 1992. Latin American Regional Reports: Caribbean Report. "Direct Elections For National Assembly." London: Latin American Newsletters, p. 7.
Libération [Paris]. 9 October 1992. "Cuba: Crosses."
Radio Havana Cuba [Havana, in Spanish]. 21 April 1993. "Commentary Views Role of Religion." (FBIS-LAT-93-076 22 Apr. 1993, pp. 4-5)