[Marxism] Catholic Church calls on Cubans to pray for

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Many who consider themselves Marxists take atheism as a virtually
religious faith. Most people in the world believe in some form of a
relgious idea, though their level of practice and conviction isn't
either high or universal. It varies widely. Here in Cuba, where the
Roman Cathlic Church is the largest formal denomination, its call 
on the Cuban people to pray for the island's Commander-in-Chief is
an event of political significance. It's really quite a good sign
and should serve as a positive example for Roman Catholics widely.
Don't look for anything like this to occur in Miami, where some have
been praying for Fidel Castro's death, just as they had previously
prayed for the plane with took Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba to crash.
I hope we'll see something like this coming out of Zenit, the Vatican
news service, which covers such issues widely. Remember, as well, the
sharp public rebuke which Fidel Castro gave on the death of Pope John
Paul II to the suggestion that the Pope was somehow responsible for
the restoration of capitalism in eastern Europe. 

Read about that:
http://www.walterlippmann.com/pope.html

Relations between the Cuban government and the Vatican are excellent,
despite important political, social and cultural opinions they do not
share. Here's the statement by Pope John, earlier last year, accepting
the credentials of the Cuban ambassator to the Vatican:
http://www.walterlippmann.com/docs042.html
==================================================================
("Educated by Jesuits, Fidel Castro expelled Catholic priests 
at the start of his revolution. Most priests were Spanish, and 
had sided with the dictatorship.")
==================================================================

Catholic Church calls on Cubans to pray for Castro
08/04/06

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's Roman Catholic Church, which has had
sometimes strained relations with the communist government, called on
Cubans Friday to pray for President Fidel Castro's recovery from
illness and for divine guidance for those provisionally running the
country.

The Catholic Bishops Conference also appeared to warn against foreign
interference in Cuba amid the uncertainty following Castro's
temporary handover to his brother.

"We ask all our communities to pray that God accompany President
Fidel Castro in his illness and illuminates those who have received
provisional government duties," the bishops said in a statement.

Invoking Cuba's patron, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, the
bishops hoped for peace and fraternal co-existence among all Cubans
at "this historic hour," adding that these "should not be troubled by
any external or internal situation."

The reference to an external situation appeared to be a call for the
United States -- long Castro's ideological foe and eager for
political change on the island -- not to meddle.

Castro, 79, stunned his country by announcing Monday that he had
ceded power temporarily to his younger brother, Raul Castro, after
undergoing surgery to stop intestinal bleeding.

Neither Fidel Castro, who has been in charge of Cuba since his 1959
revolution drove a military dictator from power, nor the new
president, Raul Castro, have been seen in public since.

The Catholic Church remains influential in Cuba despite a difficult
relationship with the authorities, in particular over religious
freedoms. The church has occasionally also criticized the government
on other issues, but has carefully tempered this with condemnation of
the U.S. policy of trying to isolate Cuba through economic sanctions.

Educated by Jesuits, Fidel Castro expelled Catholic priests at the
start of his revolution. Most priests were Spanish, and had sided
with the dictatorship. Under communism, Cuba officially became an
atheist state.

Religious worship was freed up in the 1990s when Havana began to seek
a visit by the late Pope John Paul, and in 1992 the Constitution was
changed to make Cuba a secular state and to forbid religious
discrimination.

Christmas was restored as a holiday in 1997 on the eve of a visit by
Pope John Paul's historic visit, but the state has given the church
few concessions since. The church says about half of the island's
11.2 million people are Roman Catholic.

REUTERS

Havana. August 4, 2006

Catholic Church calls for prayers for health of Cuban President

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/agosto/vier4/33iglesia-i.html

HAVANA, August 4 (PL).?The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba
(COCC) called today on its congregation to pray for the recovery of
President Fidel Castro, who announced that he had undergone surgery
last Monday.

In a letter to all Catholics in the country, the COCC asked
communities "to offer prayers so that God accompanies President Fidel
Castro in his illness and illuminates those who have provisionally
received the responsibilities of government."

Last Monday, the head of state addressed a proclamation to the people
in which he provisionally delegated his functions as the head of
state and government, the Communist Party, and the Revolutionary
Armed Forces to First Vice President Raúl Castro, due to health
problems.

He also delegated his functions in heath, education, and energy
conservation programs to other governmental authorities.

Due to stress from excessive work and activities in the past weeks,
the leader suffered an acute intestinal crisis with bleeding that
required surgical intervention, according to his own words in the
July 31 proclamation.

Regarding this, the Catholic hierarchy stated that "the delicate
state of health from which the President is suffering (?) constitutes
an especially significant moment for our people."

"The Catholic Church, as part of this community, shares this concern
and the petitions of all its followers," continues the text, at the
same time invoking the Virgin de la Caridad del Cobre.

To the Cuban Patron Saint, continues the communiqué, "We confide
everything that concerns us at this time in our country?s history
with a profound wish for peace and fraternal coexistence among all
Cubans."

The document, which the COCC asked to be read out next Sunday at
masses offered around the island, also alerts that the prevailing
stability and social harmony in Cuba "cannot be disturbed by any
internal or external situation."



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