Thanks to Walter Lippman.
Catholic Church calls on Cubans to pray for Castro 08/04/06
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's Roman Catholic Church, which has had sometimes strained relations with the communist government, called on Cubans Friday to pray for President Fidel Castro's recovery from illness and for divine guidance for those provisionally running the country.
The Catholic Bishops Conference also appeared to warn against foreign interference in Cuba amid the uncertainty following Castro's temporary handover to his brother.
"We ask all our communities to pray that God accompany President Fidel Castro in his illness and illuminates those who have received provisional government duties," the bishops said in a statement.
Invoking Cuba's patron, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, the bishops hoped for peace and fraternal co-existence among all Cubans at "this historic hour," adding that these "should not be troubled by any external or internal situation."
The reference to an external situation appeared to be a call for the United States -- long Castro's ideological foe and eager for political change on the island -- not to meddle.
Castro, 79, stunned his country by announcing Monday that he had ceded power temporarily to his younger brother, Raul Castro, after undergoing surgery to stop intestinal bleeding.
Neither Fidel Castro, who has been in charge of Cuba since his 1959 revolution drove a military dictator from power, nor the new president, Raul Castro, have been seen in public since.
The Catholic Church remains influential in Cuba despite a difficult relationship with the authorities, in particular over religious freedoms. The church has occasionally also criticized the government on other issues, but has carefully tempered this with condemnation of the U.S. policy of trying to isolate Cuba through economic sanctions.
Educated by Jesuits, Fidel Castro expelled Catholic priests at the start of his revolution. Most priests were Spanish, and had sided with the dictatorship. Under communism, Cuba officially became an atheist state.
Religious worship was freed up in the 1990s when Havana began to seek a visit by the late Pope John Paul, and in 1992 the Constitution was changed to make Cuba a secular state and to forbid religious discrimination.
Christmas was restored as a holiday in 1997 on the eve of a visit by Pope John Paul's historic visit, but the state has given the church few concessions since. The church says about half of the island's 11.2 million people are Roman Catholic.
REUTERS
Havana. August 4, 2006
Catholic Church calls for prayers for health of Cuban President
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/agosto/vier4/33iglesia-i.html
HAVANA, August 4 (PL).—The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) called today on its congregation to pray for the recovery of President Fidel Castro, who announced that he had undergone surgery last Monday.
In a letter to all Catholics in the country, the COCC asked communities "to offer prayers so that God accompanies President Fidel Castro in his illness and illuminates those who have provisionally received the responsibilities of government."
Last Monday, the head of state addressed a proclamation to the people in which he provisionally delegated his functions as the head of state and government, the Communist Party, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces to First Vice President Raúl Castro, due to health problems.
He also delegated his functions in heath, education, and energy conservation programs to other governmental authorities.
Due to stress from excessive work and activities in the past weeks, the leader suffered an acute intestinal crisis with bleeding that required surgical intervention, according to his own words in the July 31 proclamation.
Regarding this, the Catholic hierarchy stated that "the delicate state of health from which the President is suffering ( ) constitutes an especially significant moment for our people."
"The Catholic Church, as part of this community, shares this concern and the petitions of all its followers," continues the text, at the same time invoking the Virgin de la Caridad del Cobre.
To the Cuban Patron Saint, continues the communiqué, "We confide everything that concerns us at this time in our country’s history with a profound wish for peace and fraternal coexistence among all Cubans."
The document, which the COCC asked to be read out next Sunday at masses offered around the island, also alerts that the prevailing stability and social harmony in Cuba "cannot be disturbed by any internal or external situation."
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