Building Just U.S. and Cuban Relations
Despite consistent calls by the Cuban Council of Churches, Cuban Catholic Bishops, the World Council of Churches, the Vatican, and the U.S. Catholic Bishops to end the 45-year old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, the Bush Administration has steadily intensified it.
Cuban Religious Leaders Urge Increased Dialogue
In May 2003, the U.S. government ended longstanding "people-to-people" exchanges, terminating licenses for ecumenical and educational visits to Cuba. Nonetheless, religious and community leaders in Cuba continue to urge the people of the United States to visit them to break the isolation between our two peoples, dialogue about U.S.-Cuba relations, and work improved relations between our nations in the future.
In response to these appeals for direct visits, CRLN has organized five delegations to Cuba since 1996. Two of these delegations were co-sponsored by the Illinois Conference of Churches; another by the Chicago Presbytery of Presbyterian Church (USA). Our delegations have twice met in Havana with Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega, who emphasized that ending the embargo is the most important action faith communities could take to relieve suffering in Cuba. In March 2004, CRLN also hosted the President and Vice President of the Cuban Council of Churches - both women - for dinner with a dozen religious leaders in Chicago to seek their guidance in our work.
New Travel Restrictions, Bar Family and Church Visits
In late 2004, both the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to end the U.S. travel ban to Cuba. In an unprecedented move, the measure was eliminated in conference committee by Republican leadership at the behest of President Bush. In addition, the Bush Administration has implemented harsh new travel and remittance regulations that will be harmful to ordinary Cubans, further restrict the rights of U.S. citizens, and divide Cuban families. At the same time, the Bush Administration has virtually eliminated licensed ecumenical and denominational religious travel to Cuba. CRLN will work to end the unjust U.S. trade embargo and travel restrictions to Cuba and demand more just policies towards Cuba.
