Cardinal looks at economic, social situation

Palabra Nueva, the magazine of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Havana, has published an interview with Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of Havana. Here are some quotes.
• On economic and social changes: "Our country is in a very difficult situation, surely the most difficult we have lived through in the 21st Century. The Cuban press publishes opinions of all types regarding the way to find ways out of the current economic and social difficulties. [...]
"There is a basic common denominator among almost all opinion givers: the changes needed to remedy this situation should be made in Cuba soon. I believe this opinion has reached a kind of national consensus and its delay produces impatience and malaise among the people. [...]
"[The] new realities, as well as the almost half-century blockade by the United States, are added to Cuba's perennial economic difficulties originating in the limitations imposed by the type of socialism practiced here, and they outline a panorama that is sometimes somber."
• On U.S.-Cuba  relations: "I believe a dialogue Cuba-United States would be the first step needed to break the critical circle in which we find ourselves. [...]
"The first thing to do is to come together, talk and, as the dialogue advances, take steps that can improve the difficult situations or overcome the most critical issues. This is the civilized way to deal with any conflict."
• On intolerance to the opposition: "This is not the time to stoke passions. That is why we are grieved to see the acts of repudiation toward the mothers and wives of several prisoners, to whom is added another group of women, known as the Ladies in White. [...]
"...these actions began to appear anew on the national stage and also among Cubans in South Florida against other Cubans with different opinions or artists from Cuba, and so on. This type of verbal, even physical, intolerance should not remain in our nation's history as a characteristic feature of Cubans."
• On political prisoners: "Historically, the Church has done everything possible to gain the release of not only the sick [political prisoners] but also the others. [...]
"This is what the Church always does with the prisoners and every person affected by his relationship with them, such as their relatives. It has done the same with respect to the five Cubans held prisoner in the United States [...]
"The mission of the Church always is that of understanding and mercy, acting discreetly but effectively to overcome the situation of those people [...] even though the hoped-for results are not always achieved."
To read the entire interview, in Spanish, click here. For a report by Reuters, click here.

Comments

[Walter Lippmann]

The CNN and AP reports were much more complete and accurate because they also included Cardinal Ortega's criticism of Washington. The summary given here omits that rather crucial detail. CNN wrote:

The archbishop of Havana was also critical of Barack Obama, saying that the American president raised expectations with campaign pledges of direct talks with Cuba but has failed to keep them.

"After coming to power, the new American president has repeated the old pattern of previous governments," Ortega said.

FULL:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/04/20/cuba.catholic.church/