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MARIO J. TORRES
Religion
For many years after taking the
power, Castro officially denied God and forbade Christmas and all of its
traditions. Believers were banned, and it was a new issue to include in any
job application form the terms: “political integration and religious
beliefs”. If anyone happened to fill out the first one declaring he belonged
to political organizations of the system like the country's communist party
and leave the second one blank, he had high chances of getting the job or
career, but if it was the other way around, he would surely be dismissed or
rejected. Believers had to hide their religion and pretend they were
atheist; otherwise, they were cornered or discriminated, and many people
really forgot about God in order to get positions in the government or to be
considered as normal citizens, have a regular job and be let in peace.
Castro defined as contradictory and incompatible to have any kind of
religious belief or practice and to hold a public or professional position,
to be "someone" in life or to get a decent career and even less to be part
of his system, so people known to have open religious beliefs were put aside
as second class citizens, were watched as potential enemies, were not
considered as equal; therefore not being able to request the same rights in
any sphere of society as those who belonged to political organizations and
had given proof of their atheist status to the system, so the former were
discriminated in a subtle and at the same time open way.
A vast majority of the population, basically professionals like teachers and
doctors who feared losing their jobs, not to have those equal rights or not
to be able to climb to better positions or be respected, practiced their
beliefs in total secret and started hiding to go to church or temples.
Cuba then became probably the only country in the whole world that ignored
Christmas and the existence of Jesus Christ and seminars and lectures were
given to prove that he never existed and that materialist ideas were the
valid ones.
School became the main site for the promotion of this trend and young kids
were taught not to believe in God, believers were laughed at and thought of
as silly, crazy people.
Castro did not openly persecute people but he did actually persecute Jesus
Christ himself with these actions.
The general population continued believing and celebrating Christmas in
private -- if they could --whereas Castro only celebrated his own political
dates, such as January 1 when he took power, the 26th of July when he
attacked the Moncada Army Garrison, and the 28th of September, the day of
his famous CDR, a political repressive organization.
Priest and church work remained in the dark and their influence was very
limited.
With years, he made people believe he had made an opening by letting
everyone do what he liked, with fewer restraints. They could do what they
wanted regarding beliefs, but that was still hypocritical and artificial
because a close eye was still kept on those who attended church.
After the Pope's visit, Castro declared Christmas a holiday, but he gave it
no support or resources, and he sold no food or drinks to celebrate it. He
practically deceived the Pope by promising things he later did not fulfill,
such as elections, an opening to the world, etc.
A trend of religion is now taking more force in Cuba, and it is the
traditional, African-like saint, spiritual medium or psychic who foretells
the future and helps relieve evil. Many Cubans have turned to this method as
part of their medication, spiritual support, or encouragement and hope for
the future.
All these facts still prevail in the island where in the field of religion
there is no freedom either.
MARIO J TORRES
FEBRUARY 2004
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