Tag: Raúl Castro

Cuba’s new leader ‘not a reformer’

April 19, 2018 Cuba Catholics, Churches, Communism, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Human rights, Latin America, Miguel Díaz-Canel, Protestants, Raúl Castro, Religious freedom

Raúl Castro, who replaced his brother Fidel as Cuba’s president in 2006, stepped down from the post this week, ending a decades-long rule by his family. His successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel – who up until now was the country’s first vice-president – takes on an historic leadership role by becoming the . . . Read More

Cuba continues to restrict freedom of education

March 29, 2017 Cuba Censorship, Cuba, Education, Ramon Rigal, Raúl Castro

Cuba’s Center for Coexistence Studies (CEC) has once again been the target of harassment by state police, according to regional news agency Diario Las Americas. CEC was founded by Cuban Catholic intellectual Dagoberto Valdes, as a platform for citizen participation, freedom of expression, social justice and democracy for the good . . . Read More

‘Castro’s death won’t end repression of Cuban Church’

December 1, 2016 Cuba Fidel Castro, Havana, Latin America, Pope Francis, Raúl Castro

The death of Cuba’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro will not reduce the harassment and surveillance to which the Church is already subjected, an analyst at the charity Open Doors has warned. Following Castro’s death at the age of 90 on Saturday (26 Nov.), Paul Groen told World Watch Monitor: “Fidel’s . . . Read More

Christianity once considered a ‘disease’, but now ‘tolerated’ in Cuba

October 26, 2016 Cuba Censorship, Churches, Communism, Fidel Castro, Havana, Raúl Castro

The ruins of a church in the town of Trinidad, in the central Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus.Cristian Viarisio / Flickr / CC Christians in Cuba used to face constant pressure from the authorities for being thought “anti-revolutionaries”. It was said that being Christian was a “disease”. They were . . . Read More

The potential impact of US elections on the Church in Cuba

October 26, 2016 Cuba Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Elections, Havana, Hilary Clinton, Latin America, Raúl Castro

It’s been a year since the US embassy in Havana was opened, followed by the historic visit by President Barack Obama. Since then, collaboration between the two countries has increased. “Direct flights are due to begin this month, travel restrictions have been eased for US citizens and bilateral cooperation increased . . . Read More

Why the Cuban Church is still under pressure

October 26, 2016 Cuba Communism, Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro

Cuba is one of the few remaining communist governments in the world. Ten years ago, the country’s ageing leader, Fidel Castro, was replaced by his brother, Raúl, but the government stayed essentially the same and desired changes did not take place, although there have been relaxed controls over some . . . Read More

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