FEATURES
Church Resurrected in a Changing Cuba
by Teo A. Babun, Jr.
After decades of hostility, relations between the Roman Catholic
Church, most Protestant churches and Cuba's government are undergoing
the most profound change since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel
Castro. Church workers and diplomats say a new tolerance for religious
activity and social programs represents the most likely means
in 36 years of introducing elements of change in the rigid Marxist
system.
The first significant development came in 1991 during Cuba's Fourth
Communist Party Congress, when delegates voted to allow Christians
and other religious individuals to obtain party membership. Although
the change had been discussed for several years, its approval
at the Congress was somewhat unexpected. Cuba experts believe
that grassroots support for the change came from young people
who were refusing to join the Communist Party in lieu of attending
evangelical church services. In any event, the amendment was passed,
accompanied by a change in Cuba's constitutional status from an
atheist to a secular state.
Nothing symbolized the change in relations more graphically than
Castro's November 19 audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican
and the decision to allow the pontiff to visit the island in January
1998.
All denominations have experienced a large increase in membership.
While the exact figures are unavailable, it is estimated that
the total number of Protestants at two million, or roughly 18
percent of the Cuban population. There are roughly 10,000 approved
and another 20,000 or so illegal Protestant Casas culto,
or house churches, since 1990.With between a dozen and several
hundred members per house church. In addition to the Casas
culto, established churches are also overflowing with new
members.
Distribution of religious materials may also serve as an indicator
of growing interest in religion. The Bible was the best-selling
title at the International Book Fair in Havana in 1994 and 1995,
and copies move briskly on the black market. Josh McDowell's More
than a Carpenter is the second most requested religious book
in Cuba. United Bible Societies, working with the Cuban Council
of Churches as well as other religious publications to Cuba between
1991 and 1995.
The church is growing in power, not only because of its surging
membership but because it is providing medical and food aid. Caritas,
the Catholic charity operating there since 1992, has distributed
about $7 million in aid during each of the last two years. Much
of this aid is in medical supplies that help keep the nation's
vaunted health care program from fraying further.
The phenomenal growth in the island's churches have created a
tremendous backlog of vital teaching materials, devotionals, Bibles,
as well as construction materials for new churches and food and
medicine for the new believers. A number of individual churches
and para-churches such as The Navigators, team Expansion, The
Salvation Army and Overseas Council to name but a few are trying
to fill the gap, but they need help to keep up with the growing
demand. If you are interested in helping, you can write to: A
Vision for a Christian Cuba, South Florida Center for
Theological Studies, 609 Brickell Avenue, Miami, or call me at
Young Life of Greater Miami at (305) 379-0601.