Policy & Advocacy
Backgrounder on Cuba, January 2016
Backgrounder on Cuba, January 2016
President Raúl Castro’s government introduced measured economic reforms expanding property rights, small‑business activity, and credit access, while serious human‑rights and civic‑space restrictions persist. The Catholic Church in Cuba has made cautious, incremental gains in dialogue and pastoral activity but continues to face significant constraints on education, communications, and reception of foreign pastoral agents.
Church situation
- Restricted freedoms: The government limits Church activity in education, mass communications, and foreign pastoral personnel.
- Social and pastoral work: Despite restrictions, the Church runs social assistance projects serving the sick, elderly, disabled, and conducts pastoral ministry as permitted.
- High‑level engagement: Pope Francis’s September 2015 visit reinforced pastoral ties and opened opportunities for government dialogue.
U.S. policy developments
- Easing of restrictions: Since 2009–2011 the Obama administration expanded purposeful travel, family assistance, remittances, and charter flights; in December 2014 diplomatic relations were restored and Cuba’s state‑sponsor‑terrorism designation was lifted.
- Further steps: Conversations continued on telecommunications, counternarcotics, and health cooperation; Obama ended the “wet foot, dry foot” policy in January 2017.
- Congressional role: Full repeal of trade and travel restrictions requires congressional action; some members sought to reimpose prior limits but legislative reversals had not succeeded.
USCCB position
- Engagement over isolation: The USCCB and Cuban bishops favor increased dialogue and people‑to‑people contact as the best route to strengthen human rights, religious freedom, and civil society.
- Critique of the embargo: The embargo is seen as strengthening state control and harming ordinary Cubans; the Church opposes the embargo and supports removing travel and trade barriers that undermine civil society.
- Solidarity: USCCB continues material and pastoral support for the Church in Cuba and condemns crackdowns on peaceful dissent and restrictions on religious liberty.
Actions requested
- Urge Congress to lift all travel restrictions for Americans, expand trade with Cuba, resist efforts to reimpose pre‑2009 constraints, and move toward ending the economic embargo.
- Continue concrete support for the Catholic Church in Cuba’s pastoral, social, and evangelizing mission.