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[[Image:Iglesia Cuba.jpg|right|300px]]

[[Image:Iglesia Cuba.jpg|right|300px]]

While the Cuba has laws on the books supposedly granting the right of citizens to [[freedom of religion]], the government de facto restricts that freedom. Twenty-two denominations, including [[Presbyterian]]s, [[Episcopalian]]s, and [[Methodist]]s, are members of the [[Cuban Council of Churches]] (CCC). Most CCC members are officially recognized by the State, though several, including the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church]], are not registered and are recognized only through their membership in the CCC. Another 31 officially recognized denominations, including [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and the small [[Jewish]] community, do not belong to the CCC. The government does not favor any one particular religion or church; however, the government appears to be most tolerant of those churches that maintain close relations to the State through the CCC. Unregistered religious groups experience various degrees of official interference, harassment, and repression. The Ministry of Interior engages in active efforts to control and monitor the country's religious institutions, including through surveillance, infiltration and [[harassment]] of religious professionals and practitioners. The most independent religious organizations--including the Catholic Church, the largest independent institution in Cuba today--continue to operate under significant restrictions and pressure imposed on them by the Cuban regime. The Cuban Government continues to refuse to allow the church to have independent [[printing press]] capabilities, full access to the [[media]], the ability to train enough [[priest]]s for its needs or allow adequate numbers of foreign priests to work in the country, or the ability to establish socially useful institutions, including schools and universities, hospitals and clinics, and nursing homes. All registered denominations must report to the Ministry of Interior's Office of Religious Affairs.  

While the Cuba has laws on the books supposedly granting the right of citizens to [[freedom of religion]], the government de facto restricts that freedom.  

 

 

Twenty-two denominations, including [[Presbyterian]]s, [[Episcopalian]]s, and [[Methodist]]s, are members of the [[Cuban Council of Churches]] (CCC). Most CCC members are officially recognized by the State, though several, including the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church]], are not registered and are recognized only through their membership in the CCC. Another 31 officially recognized denominations, including [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and the small [[Jewish]] community, do not belong to the CCC. The government does not favor any one particular religion or church; however, the government appears to be most tolerant of those churches that maintain close relations to the State through the CCC. Unregistered religious groups experience various degrees of official interference, harassment, and repression. The Ministry of Interior engages in active efforts to control and monitor the country's religious institutions, including through surveillance, infiltration and [[harassment]] of religious professionals and practitioners. The most independent religious organizations--including the Catholic Church, the largest independent institution in Cuba today--continue to operate under significant restrictions and pressure imposed on them by the Cuban regime. The Cuban Government continues to refuse to allow the church to have independent [[printing press]] capabilities, full access to the [[media]], the ability to train enough [[priest]]s for its needs or allow adequate numbers of foreign priests to work in the country, or the ability to establish socially useful institutions, including schools and universities, hospitals and clinics, and nursing homes. All registered denominations must report to the Ministry of Interior's Office of Religious Affairs.  

[[Image:Cuba and Pope.jpg|left|180px]]

[[Image:Cuba and Pope.jpg|left|180px]]

The visit of Pope [[John Paul II]] in January 1998 was seen as an important, positive event for bringing a message of hope and the need for respect of human rights. Unfortunately, these improvements did not continue once the Pope left the island. While some visas were issued for additional priests to enter Cuba around the time of the visit, the regime has again sharply restricted issuance of visas. Moreover, despite explicit regime guarantees and repeated follow-up requests, the regime has refused to permit the Catholic Church to establish [[Internet]] connections or an intranet among [[diocese]]s on the Island. In a pastoral letter entitled "There is No Country Without Virtue" ("No Hay Patria Sin Virtud"), the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops in February 2003 openly criticized the government's strict control over the activities of the Catholic Church, especially state restrictions on religious education and Church access to mass media, as well as the increasingly [[amoral]] and irreligious character of Cuban society under Communist rule.  

The visit of Pope [[John Paul II]] in January 1998 was seen as an important, positive event for bringing a message of hope and the need for respect of human rights. Unfortunately, these improvements did not continue once the Pope left the island. While some visas were issued for additional priests to enter Cuba around the time of the visit, the regime has again sharply restricted issuance of visas. Moreover, despite explicit regime guarantees and repeated follow-up requests, the regime has refused to permit the Catholic Church to establish [[Internet]] connections or an intranet among [[diocese]]s on the Island. In a pastoral letter entitled "There is No Country Without Virtue" ("No Hay Patria Sin Virtud"), the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops in February 2003 openly criticized the government's strict control over the activities of the Catholic Church, especially state restrictions on religious education and Church access to mass media, as well as the increasingly [[amoral]] and irreligious character of Cuban society under Communist rule.