We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Human Rights in Cuba
FREE Catholic Classes
April 30, 2003
by Raymond L. Flynn
Pope John Paul II publicly released a letter that the Vatican sent to Fidel Castro a couple of weeks ago expressing dismay at Cuba's crackdown on political dissent.
The pope personally appealed to Castro to show leniency with dissidents recently given harsh prison sentences and denounced the execution of the men who seized a ferry to reach the United States.
The letter, which was signed by the Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano, stated in part, "The Holy Father felt deeply pained when he learned of the harsh sentences recently imposed on numerous Cuban citizens. And even, for some of them, the death penalty." Thus far, Castro has not acknowledged the letter.
Speaking at a political luncheon in Boston and also later on MSNBC national television on Saturday, I said, "Castro has a human rights record of shame. He has oppressed and persecuted many Cubans including those in the Catholic Church and priests whose only objective was to teach the world about God." The U.S. Government and the international community have closed their eyes to this injustice and terror in Cuba for forty years.
Cuba sits only ninety miles off the United States coast, but it continues to be one of the world's worst violators of human rights. When you see what has been happening in Cuba these many years, you have to be concerned about whether we have lost our moral compass. Our government policy of looking the other way when is comes to human rights abuses must be changed. When members of the U.S. Congress visit Castro in the future, they should demand that the Cuban leader recognize and respect the God given rights of all individuals. Our policy in Cuba has been a failure. Economic boycotts and expanding business opportunities have not worked.
Pope John Paul II has been a clear and consistent moral voice on human rights issues throughout the world, but the international community must be equally committed.
American Catholic Alliance is a leading national organization committed to human rights and religious freedom throughout the world.
__________________________________
Raymond L. Flynn is the National President of American Catholic Alliance, former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. He is also a Contributing Editor to Catholic Online.
He can be reached at (617) 269-0909.
Contact
Catholic Online
https://www.catholic.org
CA, US
Raymond L. Flynn - Contributing Editor, 661 869-1000
colirf@catholic.org
Keywords
Human Rights, Cuba
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
Daily Readings for Thursday, April 25, 2024
St. Mark: Saint of the Day for Thursday, April 25, 2024
Prayer for Policemen: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, April 25, 2024
