Foto del Mnsr: Nelson Viola (Google)
No deja de asombrarme la negligencia de algunos "expertos en temas cubanos" a la hora de analizar los hechos actuales de la Iglesia Cubana y su relacion con el regimen de Cuba. Por Cuba y para Cuba ha publicado una serie de Wikileaks en donde se puede ver con claridad la politica del Vaticano y la Iglesia Cubana al respecto. Hasta ahora poco han dicho los "expertos" acerca de los wikileaks y esto para mi es inexplicable, especialmente cuando estos cables oficiales de las embajadas de EE.UU en reuniones con la alta curia del Vaticano y la Iglesia Cubana muestran el cartapacio del Vaticano en Cuba. En el primer Wikileaks acerca del Vaticano que aparece en la seccion "Cuba" podemos ver con claridad cual es el plan de su "diplomacia" en Cuba. Este cable tiene fecha del 2001 (tres anos despues de la visita del Papa Juan Pablo II a la isla) trata de una reunion en Marzo 7, 2001 en la embajada de EE.UU en la ciudad del Vaticano entre Nelson Viola (argentino), Eber Ferrer (Brasileno) ambos altos jerarcas de Caritas Internacional y "Expertos en el tema cubano", como dice este cable, en este mismo mes de Marzo, hace once anos, durante la administracion de Bush. Si alguien argumentara que se trata de una organizacion "humanitaria" la respuesta se confirma en el segundo Wikileaks que aparece en la seccion de Cuba, el tercero, el cuarto y asi sucesivamente. Por eso no puedo comprender como los "expertos de la media" en Miami han hablado de estos documentos "confidenciales y secretos" de reuniones de altos jerarcas del Vaticano y la Iglesia Catolica en Cuba con embajadores norteamericanos alrededeor del mundo. Wikileaks es el "secreto" hecho publico y los productores de la media lo saben al menos que sean unos mediocres del periodismo. Por cuba y Para Cuba publicara, uno por uno, estos Wikileaks antes de la visita del Papa Benedicto a Cuba.
Wikileaks #1
EMBASSY OFFICERS MET MARCH 7 WITH CARITAS INTERNATIONAL CUBA SPECIALIST, FATHER NELSON VIOLA (AN ARGENTINE NATIONAL) AND CARITAS CARIBBEAN DESK OFFICER EBER FERRER (BRAZILIAN).
SUBJECT: CARITAS
INTERNATIONAL ON CUBA - "CAUTIOUS
OPTIMISM"
SUMMARY: EMBASSY OFFICERS MET 2/7 WITH VATICAN NGO
"CARITAS INTERNATIONAL" CUBA SPECIALISTS FOR A CONVERSATION
ON CARITAS' HUMANITARIAN WORK IN CUBA. THE OFFICIALS WERE
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY AND
THE ROLE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THEY CLAIMED CARITAS CUBA
ENJOYED A REASONABLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM AND MAINTAINED A
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THEY
CHALLENGED THE USG TO "ENGAGE" WITH THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT
INSTEAD OF ISOLATING IT WITH INEFFECTIVE EMBARGO. THEY
FORESAW A USEFUL ROLE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE US IN
CUBA'S FUTURE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND URGED THE USG TO PLAN NOW FOR THE POST-CASTRO ERA. END
SUMMARY.
--------------------------------------------- ----
ABOVE POLITICS - JUST MEETING A HUMANITARIAN NEED
--------------------------------------------- ----
EMBASSY OFFICERS MET MARCH 7 WITH CARITAS
INTERNATIONAL CUBA SPECIALIST, FATHER NELSON VIOLA (AN
ARGENTINE NATIONAL) AND CARITAS CARIBBEAN DESK OFFICER EBER
FERRER (BRAZILIAN). THEY DISMISSED REFTEL REPORT THAT THE
CUBAN GOVERNMENT MIGHT STEP UP PRESSURE ON THEM BECAUSE OF
THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION'S INITIATIVE FOR FAITH RELIEF
AGENCIES. AFTER INSISTING THAT CARITAS WAS NOT "POLITICAL"
AND ONLY MET A HUMANITARIAN NEED, THEY OFFERED THEIR CANDID
APPRAISAL OF THE SITUATION IN CUBA. BOTH MEN NOTED HIGH
STANDARDS OF INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AMONG CUBANS. HOWEVER, THEY LAMENTED POOR
INFRASTRUCTURE, EXCESSIVE STATE CONTROL OF THE ECONOMY, AND
HARD-LINE ATTITUDES WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT THAT IMPEDED
DEVELOPMENT. VIOLA CLAIMED CUBA'S MARKET ECONOMY IS SLOWLY
DEVELOPING IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, AND THAT
THE OVERALL ECONOMY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF TOURISM AND THE
INFLUX OF HARD CURRENCY REMITTANCES. HE SAID THE GENERAL
POPULATION HAD LESS FEAR OF THE STATE AND THAT PLURALISM
HAD BEGUN TO TAKE HOLD.
THEY BOTH CALLED THE U.S. EMBARGO AN ANACHRONISM
THAT WAS STILL MANIPULATED BY FIDEL CASTRO AS AN EXCUSE FOR
CUBA'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WOES. FR. VIOLA OPINED THAT
CARITAS WOULD HAVE LESS WORK TO DO IN CUBA IF THE U.S.
EMBARGO WERE LIFTED, ALTHOUGH THE CHURCH'S OPPOSITION TO IT
WAS PRACTICAL, NOT POLITICAL. HE SAID IT WAS
UNDERSTANDABLE DURING THE COLD WAR, IF NOT JUSTIFIED, BUT
THAT NOW THE U.S. IS JUST LOSING BUSINESS TO EUROPEAN
COMPETITORS.
VIOLA SAID CARITAS FUNNELS MOST OF ITS ASSISTANCE
THROUGH OFFICIAL CUBAN MECHANISMS. IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH
CUBAN OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO HUNGER IN THE
COUNTRY, CARITAS DISCREETLY RUNS "SOUP KITCHENS," FOR THE
ELDERLY AND UNMARRIED MOTHERS. THE GOC DISCOURAGES RELIEF
THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE SOCIALIST MODEL (WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO FOOD FOR ALL), BUT TOLERATES THESE
CARITAS ENTERPRISES. VIOLA SAID THAT OFTEN THE SOUP
KITCHENS OPERATE FROM THE RESIDENCE OF A LOCAL CLERGYMAN
WHO CLOAKS IT AS A GESTURE OF HOSPITALITY TO ALLAY OFFICIAL
SUSPICIONS.
--------------------------------
SITUATION OF CHRISTIANS IMPROVED
--------------------------------
FATHER VIOLA CLAIMS THAT IT HAS TAKEN CUBANS 40
YEARS TO WAKE UP TO CASTRO'S TWO MAIN ERRORS: HIS ANTI-
AMERICAN POLICY AND HIS PROMOTION OF AN ATHEISTIC
COMMUNISM. VIOLA CLAIMS THAT PUBLIC MANIFESTATION OF
RELIGION IS BECOMING MORE ACCEPTABLE AND THAT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH HAS A GROWING INFLUENCE ON CUBAN SOCIETY. ATTENDING
CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS SERVICES NO LONGER LEADS INEVITABLY TO
SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP -- EVEN SOME COMMUNIST PARTY
MEMBERS ARE NOW OPENLY CATHOLIC. THE DIALOGUE THAT BEGAN
BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE GOC IN RESPONSE TO THE ECONOMIC
CRISIS AFTER THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL CONTINUES TODAY.
CARITAS CUBA HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL HAVANA-BASED BRANCH TO
A PRESENCE IN EVERY PARISH IN 2001. FATHER VIOLA DISMISSED
CLAIMS THAT THE 1999 PAPAL VISIT HAD COME TO NOTHING IN THE
END. HE SAID MANY CHRISTIANS EXPECTED TOO MUCH AT ONCE.
CHANGE, HE OPINED, TAKES A LONG TIME AND IT WAS AN
ABSURDITY TO EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE. THE PAPAL VISIT WAS A
CATALYST FOR CHANGE.
VIOLA CLAIMED THAT CATHOLICISM AND OPENNESS TO
OTHER CULTURES ERE "CUBAN TRAITS." HE SPOKE OF AN
INTERPENETRAION AND DIALECTIC BETWEEN OLDER AND YOUNGER
BELIVERS. DESCRIBING MARXISM AS AN INTELLECTUAL
ABERATION, VIOLA SAID THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS CETRAL
TO THE INTELLECTUAL AWAKENING OF THE CUBAN POPLE. HE
ATTRIBUTED OPPOSITION TO RELIGION AND O THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH TO A "NATURAL SOCIOLOGICALAND PSYCHOLOGICAL
REACTION" DURING THE REVOLUTIOARY PERIOD. ACCORDING TO
VIOLA, THE CATHOLIC CHRCH HAS RECEIVED HAVANA'S APPROVAL
TO OPEN A THIR SEMINARY TO TRAIN FUTURE CLERGY (THERE ARE
ALREDY TWO IN OPERATION) AND THAT CUBA'S BISHOPS ARE FEE
TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. THE CHURCHIS CONTENT
WITH, BT MONITORING CUBA'S SECULAR EUCATION SYSTEM TO
GUARD AGAINST THE TEACHING OF ATI-CHRISTIAN THEMES. THE
CHURCH STILL SEEKS THE REEDOM TO CONDUCT RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION, BUT AS YE HAS NEITHER THE PERMISSION NOR THE
FINANCIAL CAACITY TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE EDUCATION
SYSTEM.
THE PRIEST ALSO CLAIMED THAT CUBAN AUTHOITIES
HAVE NO PROBLEM ABOUT USG FUNDS REACHING IS CITIZENS
THROUGH DONATIONS TO CARITAS CUBA FRO ITS SISTER AGENCY IN
THE U.S., CATHOLIC RELIEF ERVICES. HE SAID CARITAS CUBA
IS THE ONLY FOREIN NGO REGISTERED BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT.
AS AN AM OF THE CUBAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE, CARITA
IS IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT FORCES TE CUBAN
GOVERNMENT TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CHUCH, SOMETHING THAT
GIVES CARITAS "COVER" ACCORDING TO VIOLA.
-----------------
MODELS FOR CHANGE
-----------------
VIOLA SUGGESTED THAT THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF
MIAMI COULD BECOME A KIND OF CARIBBEAN CENTER FOR
HUMANITARIAN AID OPERATIONS. ACCORDING TO VIOLA, THIS
DOVETAILS WITH THE VATICAN'S "SINGLE AMERICAN CONTINENT"
POLICY, BUT IT ALSO MAKES SENSE FOR CULTURAL, FINANCIAL,
LOGISTICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS REASONS. HE BELIEVED THE
U.S. HAD A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT THE COORDINATION CENTER
MUT OPERATE ON A DEMOCRATIC MODEL. ITS WORK WOULD HVE TO
BE VERY DISCRETE AND ABOVE POLITICAL ISSUE. HE SAID THE
ARCHDIOCESE WAS ALREADY WORKING WTH YOUNG CUBAN-AMERICANS
TO CHANGE ATTITUDES AND OSTER RECONCILIATION. FATHER
VIOLA MENTIONED MIAMI ASSISTANT BISHOP THOMAS G. WENSKI
WAS A KEY FIGURE FOR U.S. CATHOLIC CHURCH EFFORTS IN CUBA
AND THE CARIBBEAN REGION.
FATHER VIOLA ALSO ENTHUSED OVER A MEDICAL PROJECT
IN THE DIOCESE OF SANTA CLARA. SUPPORTED BY THE CUBAN
GOVERNMENT AND AT ONE STAGE TO HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY A U.S.
FOUNDATION, THE JOHN PAUL II PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY INSTITUTE
OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS TO BE A
CATCHMENT HOSPITAL FOR ALL OF LATIN AMERICA, AND COULD
"SERVE EVERYONE'S INTERESTS." APPARENTLY A FUNDING HICCUP
HAS STALLED IT. VIOLA PROFFERED THE HOSPITAL AS A PROJECT
IN WHICH THE U.S. COULD BECOME INVOLVED, PERHAPS THROUGH
THE MEDIATION OF THE MIAMI ARCHDIOCESE, AND SO ENGAGE THE
CUBAN GOVERNMENT. HE SAID CUBA WAS RIPE FOR CHANGE AND A
PROJECT SUCH AS THIS COULD HELP STIMULATE POSITIVE CHANGE.
ACCORDING TO VIOLA, U.S. ASSISTANCE IN THE PROJECT WOULD
ALSO POSITIVELY AFFECT OUR INTERNATIONAL IMAGE, DAMAGED BY
THE EMBARGO.
-----------------------
APRES CASTRO LE DELUGE?
-----------------------
FATHER VIOLA URGED THE USG TO PLAN NOW FOR A
POST-CASTRO TRANSITION, AT THE SAME TIME INSISTING THAT
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGE WOULD HAVE GREATEST
SUCCESS WHILE CASTRO WAS STILL ALIVE. HE SAID THE
ATMOSPHERE IN CUBA WAS TENSE, AND THAT THERE WAS A RISK OF
VIOLENCE WITH THE TRANSITION FROM AUTHORITARIANISM TO A
MORE LIBERAL CLIMATE. THIS WAS AGGRAVATED BY VOCIFEROUS
HARD-LINERS ON ALL SIDES.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶10. (C) CLEARLY VIOLA WAS CONFIDENT ABOUT THE CHURCH'S
FUTURE IN CUBA. HE EXPLAINED HIS UNVARNISHED CRITICISM OF
USG POLICY BY SAYING "I ASK A LOT OF HAVANA, BUT I HAVE A
RIGHT TO ASK EVEN MORE OF YOU." ALTHOUGH THIS INITIAL
MEETING WITH A/DCM WAS A RECITATION OF RAMBLING ANALYSES,
SHIBBOLETHS, AND PLATITUDES, WE BELIEVE VIOLA CAN BE AN
IMPORTANT LENS INTO CUBAN AFFAIRS SINCE HE TRAVELS
REGULARLY THROUGHOUT CUBA AND APPEARS WILLING TO SHARE HIS
EXPERIENCES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO HIM.
MERANTE
2001VATICA01436 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
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