Carta del
Reverendo Jim Winkler (presidente y secretario general del Consejo Nacional de
las Iglesias de Cristo en Estados Unidos) a la presidenta de la Cámara de
Representantes de Estados Unidos, Nancy Pelosi y al secretario de Estado, Mike
Pompeo, para solicitar que Cuba sea eliminada de la “Lista de vigilancia
especial” para países con serias restricciones a la libertad religiosa, de la
Comisión para la Libertad Religiosa Internacional.
http://misiones.minrex.gob.cu/en/articulo/include-cuba-special-watch-list-egregious-lapse-judgment-part-us-government
To Include Cuba
on the Special Watch List is an egregious lapse of judgment on the part of the
US Government
Reverend Jim
Winkler, President and General Secretary of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA, adressed a letter to the Speaker Nancy Pelosi
and Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to express concern that Cuba has been
and continues to be listed on the U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom’s “Special Watch List”.
In the text,
Reverend Winkler explained the nature of American and Cuban Christians’
relations and that, through various visits of high-level church delegations and
other exchanges, they “have witnessed first-hand the freedom by which Cubans
are allowed to express their faith”. “Over these years, we have built a
relationship of trust, and based on this trust we know that what we have seen
with our own eyes is a genuine faith and robust church life”, he added.
According to the
letter, actions like the listing of Cuba on the “Special Watch List” have set
back positive trends in Cuba, mainly those related to the rapprochement with
the United States. “Religious freedom exists in Cuba, and this action by our
government reflects an unfortunate denial of this reality, and only reinforces
worsening trends in the relations between our two countries”.
The National
Council of the Churches represents 40 million Christians in the United States,
with 38 member churches. The institution has a close relation with the Cuban
Council of Churches. Reverend Winkler acknowledged that the benefits of the
Cuban Council of Churches’ programs and services wouldn’t be possible without
religious freedom. In this regard, he expressed that “the funding given over to
undermining such a reality not only facilitates the denigration of this
history, it serves to impede the ministries provided by the churches to the
Cuban people. It also threatens the burgeoning interfaith reality on the
ground”.
Reverend Winkler
concluded his letter by saying: “To include Cuba on the “Special Watch List” is
an egregious lapse of judgment on the part of the US Government. I would
therefore request that the country be removed from this list”.
