While the Obama administration expands U.S. – Cuba relations by easing restrictions on travel, exports and financing, it also expressed concern over Havana’s dismal human rights record. Though the Cuban government continues with economic reforms, the communist party still has a stranglehold on the government and is on the attack against Cuban Christians using tactics that go back to the regime’s earliest days.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s new report warned of an unprecedented crackdown on churches of all types of denominations and has “fueled a spike in reported violations of freedom of religion or belief.” In 2011 there were 40 violations of religious liberty; in 2014 there were 220, but in 2015 there were 2300
In spite of the warm reception of Pope Francis the Castros have never been friends of faith. “The government harassed outspoken religious leaders and their followers, including reports of beating, threats, detentions, and restrictions on travel. Religious leaders reported the government tightened controls on financial resources,” said the U.S. State Department.
“Serious religious freedom violations continue in Cuba, despite improvements for government-approved religious groups,” said the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Last year’s dramatic increase in persecution “was largely due to the government declaring 2000 Assemblies of God (AoG) churches illegal, ordering the closure or demolition of 100 AoG churches in three provinces, and expropriating the properties of a number of other denominations, including the Methodist and Baptist Conventions.” In addition, a number of churches were stripped of their official registration, including some Baptists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, placing them outside the law.
CSW noted that “religious groups across the spectrum reported varying degrees of hostility from the government.” The regime has increasingly targeted church leaders and congregants, for the first time in years jailing one of the former and detaining many of the latter. In early January two churches were destroyed, church members arrested, and three church leaders held incommunicado. In some cases pastors’ homes were surrounded, nearby roads were blocked, cell phones were disrupted, and even children were held captive.
One of the government’s more hated practices has been to threaten churches with closure if they “do not comply with government demands to expel and shun specific individuals.” Failure to collaborate often results in sustained surveillance, pressure on congregants to file complaints against church leaders, and approaches to denominational leadership.
The Castros have ruled Cuba for more than a half century. They obviously still fear losing control. They want economic changes, but not social reform.
Persecution against God’s true people is a key feature of the last days for “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. Note the tactics used to repress religious expression. For more information see original article.