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Cuba
Church-state improvements come slowly
Prelate sees no “substantial” changes
During an October visit to Stockholm, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino of Havana told a meeting of Swedish government and religious leaders that, despite promised reforms in the Cuban Communist government’s treatment of religion, the transition to a more open environment was proceeding painfully slowly.
“Much still remains for the churches to regain openness and opportunity,” Cardinal Ortega said, speaking through Swedish translators. “One cannot say that there have been substantial changes.”
The Cuban government dropped its constitutional preference for atheism in 1992 and a gradual thaw in church-state relations led to a January 1998 visit by Pope John Paul II, and the acceptance of at least a few outdoor religious events. But Catholic activists charge that the government continues to discriminate against believers and harass Church workers.
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