Cuban dissident sees church role in shaping Cuba's future

Published: 2004-11-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Catholic Church needs to help Cubans form civic organizations independent of the government so that people can participate in shaping the future of their country, said a leading Cuban dissident. The current Cuban society is in its "terminal phase" with a deteriorating economic and political situation, said Dagoberto Valdes Hernandez, director of the Center of Civic and Religious Formation of the Diocese of Pinar del Rio, Cuba. The communist government of 78-year-old President Fidel Castro is ruling through authoritarian means rather than with policies and programs, he said. "The church has to offer places for people to meet and animate them through preaching, through its social and charitable works, through education," he told Catholic News Service. Valdes gave two talks in Washington during a Nov. 10-11 visit to receive an award from the American Center of Polish Culture for his promotion of human rights in Cuba.

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