Religion – dwkcommentaries

History of Roman Catholic Church’s Support of Migrants and Refugees

As Robert Cardinal McElroy briefly mentioned in his September 28^th homily, the Roman Catholic Church for the last 110 years has held annual masses in support of immigrants and refugees. [1] `Here is more information about that history.

International Catholic Migration Commission[2]

This Commission holds an annual World Day of Migrants & Refugees and over the year provides the following types of “assistance and protection to vulnerable people on the move and advocates for sustainable solutions for refugees and migrants:: humanitarian assistance & development; protection & prevention; resettlement & complementary pathways; deployment of experts; advocacy; civil society coordination; capacity building & research; and church networking.” It does so with offices in Geneva, Switzerland,; Brussells, Belgium; Washington, D.C.; and Athens, Greece that are supported by 132 national Catholic Bishops conferences and other Catholic-inspired institutions around the world.”

On April 7, 2025, the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, announced their “gut-wrenching decision . . . to end our work with the federal government to resettle and coordinate our work with the [U.S.] federal government to resettle refugees and coordinate support services on the government’s behalf for unaccompanied children entering the United States. . . . The bishops’ decisiion came after the federal government suspended our cooperative agreements to resettle refugees. . . . [and our seeing] Jesus in the stranger, the homeless, the destitute of the refugee, and sought to help them.”[3]

Broglio continued, “The Catholic Church will find new means to help those we have served in the past and will serve in the future. The bishops will also continue to advocate energetically for public policy reforms that provide orderly, secure immigration processes and ensure the safety of everyone in our communities. There is no change in our collective commitment to advocate on behalf of men, women and children suffering from the scourge of human trafficking. . . . [This change] offers every Catholic an opportunity to search our hearts for ways to help in the absence of government support. Local parishes, charities and other Catholic organizations have played, and continue to play, a pivotal role in welcoming and protecting the stranger who comes to us in need. Visible in every individual and family is the face of Jesus and the promise of his care, support and hope.”

“The Bible’s call to do what we can for the least among us remains the benchmark. Please join us in praying for God’s grace, that we might still find generous ways to respond to crises and bring hope where it is most needed.”

Pope Leo’s Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2025[4]

On October 4-5, 2025, Pope Leo issued the following message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees:

“The 111^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which my predecessor chose to coincide with the Jubilees of Migrants and of the Missions, offers us an opportunity to reflect on the connections between hope, migration and mission.”

“The current global context is sadly marked by wars, violence, injustice and extreme weather events, which force millions of people to leave their homelands in search of refuge elsewhere. The widespread tendency to look after the interests of limited communities poses a serious threat to the sharing of responsibility, multilateral cooperation, the pursuit of the common good and global solidarity for the benefit of our entire human family. The prospect of a renewed arms race and the development of new armaments, including nuclear weapons, the lack of consideration for the harmful effects of the ongoing climate crisis, and the impact of profound economic inequalities make the challenges of the present and the future increasingly demanding.”

“Faced with frightening scenarios and the possibility of global devastation, it is important that there be a growing desire in people’s hearts for a future of peace and of respect for the dignity of all. Such a future is essential to God’s plan for humanity and the rest of creation. This is the messianic future anticipated by the prophets: “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets… For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew” (Zech 8:4-5, 12). This future has already begun, since it was inaugurated by Jesus Christ (cf. Mk 1:15; Lk 17:21), and we believe and hope in its full realization, for the Lord is always faithful to his promises.”

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man and woman; it takes up the hopes that inspire human activities” (N. 1818). What is more, the search for happiness, and the prospect of finding it beyond one’s place of origin, is certainly one of the main motivations for the movement of people today.”

“This link between migration and hope is clearly evident in many contemporary experiences of migration. Many migrants, refugees and displaced persons are privileged witnesses of hope. Indeed, they demonstrate this daily through their resilience and trust in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible. Moreover, we can see the itinerant experience of the people of Israel repeated in their own lives: “O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy” (Ps 68:7-10).”

“In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes. Here too we can find a clear analogy with the experience of the people of Israel wandering in the desert, who faced every danger while trusting in the Lord’s protection: “he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday” (Ps 91:3-6).”

“Migrants and refugees remind the Church of her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue. Each time the Church gives in to the temptation of “sedentarization” and ceases to be a civitas peregrine, God’s people journeying towards the heavenly homeland (cf. Augustine, De Civitate Dei, Books XIV-XVI), she ceases to be “in the world” and becomes “of the world” (cf. Jn 15:19). This temptation was already present in the early Christian communities, so much so that the Apostle Paul had to remind the Church of Philippi that “our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself” (Phil 3:20-21).”

“In a special way, Catholic migrants and refugees can become missionaries of hope in the countries that welcome them, forging new paths of faith where the message of Jesus Christ has not yet arrived or initiating interreligious dialogue based on everyday life and the search for common values. With their spiritual enthusiasm and vitality, they can help revitalize ecclesial communities that have become rigid and weighed down, where spiritual desertification is advancing at an alarming rate. Their presence, then, should be recognized and appreciated as a true divine blessing, an opportunity to open oneself to the grace of God, who gives new energy and hope to his Church: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb 13:2)”

“The first element of evangelization, as Saint Paul VI emphasized, is that of witness: “All Christians are called to this witness, and in this way they can be real evangelizers. We are thinking especially of the responsibility incumbent on migrants in the country that receives them” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 21). This is a true missio migrantium, a mission carried out by migrants, for which adequate preparation and ongoing support must be ensured through effective inter-ecclesial cooperation.”

“At the same time, the communities that welcome them can also be a living witness to hope, one that is understood as the promise of a present and a future where the dignity of all as children of God is recognized. In this way, migrants and refugees are recognized as brothers and sisters, part of a family in which they can express their talents and participate fully in community life.”

“On this Jubilee, when the Church prays for all migrants and refugees, I wish to entrust all those who are on the journey, as well as those who are working to accompany them, to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, comfort of migrants, so that she may keep hope alive in their hearts and sustain them in their commitment to building a world that increasingly resembles the Kingdom of God, the true homeland that awaits us at the end of our journey.”

Conclusion

As a Christian of the Presbyterian persuasion, I give thanks for the Roman Catholics’ sustained support of refugees and migrants over many years.

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[1] Homily Against Trump Immigration Policies by Roman Catholic Cardinal Robert McElroy, dwkcommentaries.com (9/29/25).

[2] International Catholic Migration Commission,

[3] Broglio, Why Catholic bishops are ending our refugee work with the federal government, Wash. Post (4/7/25)

[4] Message of Pope Leo XIV for the 111^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2025.(7/25/25).

Homily Against Trump Immigration Policies by Roman Catholic Cardinal Robert McElroy

At the September 28, Mass at Washington, D.C.’s Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Robert Cardinal McElroy delivered a blistering homily against some of President Trump’s immigration policies. The occasion was the 111^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.[1]

The Homily’s Text[2]

“For the past one hundred ten years, Mass has been celebrated throughout our country to honor and support immigrants and refugees who have come to our nation as part of that stream of men and women from every land who have built up the United States into a great nation. But this year is different from the one hundred ten years that have preceded it. For this year we are confronting – both as a nation and as a Church – an unprecedented assault upon millions of immigrant men and women and families in our midst.”

“For the undocumented community of our Archdiocese, your daily witness of faith and family, hard work and sacrifice, compassion and love is a profound reflection of the deepest virtues of our faith and the most noble aspirations of our nation. The theme of today’s procession is hope amidst adversity, and in these days of deep suffering you give us an example of transforming hope and a resiliency that is founded upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whose cross symbolizes at its core suffering amidst injustice, and the recognition that in our moments of deepest hardship, our God stands with us.”

“We are witnessing a comprehensive governmental assault designed to produce fear and terror among millions of men and women who have through their presence in our nation been nurturing precisely the religious, cultural, communitarian and familial bonds that are most frayed and most valuable at this moment in our country’s history. This assault seeks to make life unbearable for undocumented immigrants. It is willing to tear families apart, separating grieving mothers from their children, and fathers from the sons and daughters who are the center of their lives. It embraces as collateral damage the horrific emotional suffering that is being thrust on children who were born here, but now face the terrible choice of losing their parents or leaving the only country that they have ever known.”

“Catholic social teaching states that every nation has the right to effectively control its own borders and provide security. Thus, efforts to secure our borders and deport those undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes constitute legitimate national goals. At times, our government asserts that these goals constitute the essence and scope of its immigration enforcement efforts, and if that were true Catholic teaching would raise no objection.”

“But the reality we are facing here in the Archdiocese of Washington and across our country is far different. For our government is engaged in — by its own admission and by the tumultuous enforcement actions it has launched – a comprehensive campaign to uproot millions of families and hard-working men and women who have come to our country seeking a better life that includes contributing to building up the best elements of our culture and society. This campaign relies on fear and terror at its core, for the government knows that it cannot succeed in its efforts except by bringing new dimensions of fear and terror to our nation’s history and life. Its goal is simple and unitary: to rob undocumented immigrants of any real peace in their lives so that in misery they will ‘self-deport’.”

“What is the moral foundation for the government in undertaking such a comprehensive campaign of fear, in uprooting ten million people from their homes and expelling them from our country? The government says the answer is simple and determinative: they broke a law when they entered or chose to stay in the United States.”

But today’s Gospel proposes a far different measure for determining whether ten million men and women and children and families who have lived alongside us for decades should face terror and expulsion: are they our neighbors?”

“The Parable of the Good Samaritan is the greatest parable that Jesus gave to the formation of our moral lives and our understanding of bonds of community and sacrifice and embrace in this world. The most striking element of the Parable is not that the Samaritan took notice of the man who had been robbed, or that he was willing to sacrifice on his behalf or that he placed his own life at risk by stopping in a very dangerous location to see if help was needed. No, the most striking element of the Parable is that the Samaritan was willing to reject the norms of society which said that because of his birth and status he had no obligation to the victim, who was a Jew. The piercing insight and glory of the Samaritan was that he rejected the narrowness and myopia of the law to understand that the victim he was passing by was truly his neighbor and that both God and the moral law obligated him to treat him as neighbor.

“In the very same way, for us as believers and citizens, our obligation regarding undocumented women and men is to ask ourselves: Are they truly our neighbor? Is the mother who sacrifices in every dimension of her life to nurture children who will live rightly, productively and caringly our neighbor? Is the man being deported despite the fact that he has three sons who serve in the marines because of the values he taught them our neighbor? Is the woman who works to provide home care for our sick and elderly parents our neighbor? Is the young adult who came here as a child and loves this nation as the only country he has ever known our neighbor? Is the undocumented woman who contributes tirelessly to our parish, caring for the church, leading the daily rosary our neighbor?”

“In the Gospel today Jesus demands that the central perspective we must bring to understanding the moral legitimacy of the campaign of fear and deportation being waged in our country today springs from the bonds of community that have come to tie us together as neighbors, not the question of whether sometime in their past individuals broke a law by entering or remaining in the United States.”

“It is this perspective that must form our stance and action as people of faith. As a Church we must console and peacefully stand in solidarity with the undocumented men and women whose lives are being upended by the government’s campaign of fear and terror. Courage and sacrifice must be the hallmark of our actions at this moment of historic and deliberate suffering being visited upon people living truly good lives that are a credit to our nation. As citizens, we must not be silent as this profound injustice is carried out in our name. The priest and the Levite in today’s Gospel are a stark reminder that in the face of suffering, we so often choose to pass on by – sometimes out of indifference, sometimes out of fear, sometimes out of a general reluctance to become involved.”

“But Jesus rejected this indifference, this fear, this reluctance. His telling last words in the Gospel allow only one option. Which of these in your opinion was neighbor to the robber’s victim? In understanding and facing the oppression of undocumented men and women in our midst, we can only have one response: I was, Lord, because I saw in them your face.”

Reactions

This homily presents the Christian approach to responding to many problems facing many foreigners living in the U.S. today and to making changes in U.S. law and procedures relating to those problems. It implicitly suggests extreme caution in taking any of the changes in U.S. asylum law proposed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.[3]

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[1] Golden, D.C. archbishop calls U.S. immigration crackdown a ‘governmental assault,’ Wash. Post (9/28/25).

[2]

Mass for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees Homily Given by Robert Cardinal McElroy

U.N. Meeting About Revising the Global Refugee and Asylum System

Cuban Christians Face Persecution

The World Watch List compiled by the NGO Open Doors has concluded that Cuba is the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere to profess the Christian faith. Cuba was ranked 26^th [with a score of 73] among the 50 countries of the world where Christians faced the most harassment. Only countries in Asia and Africa had worse rankings.[1]

This List was based on extensive surveys of Christian leaders and experts in more than 100 countries to assess “the level of oppression experienced by believers in the private, family, social (community), national and ecclesial spheres.”

The Open Doors Report on Cuba[2]

“Since 1959, Cuba has been ruled by the Communist Party, which attempts to control the church. The government reacts harshly to anyone who opposes it. Church leaders and Christian activists who criticize the regime can be questioned, arrested and imprisoned. They also suffer smear campaigns, travel restrictions and harassment, which can include physical violence and damage to church buildings.”

“Relatives of these leaders also face threats, including losing custody of their children. The government often refuses to register new churches, forcing many to operate illegally. These churches are vulnerable to fines, property confiscation, and even demolition.”

“In Cuba, Christian women and girls face pressure, in part due to loopholes in domestic violence laws. Domestic violence worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although a new family code offers more protection, the rising rate of femicides (murders of women) remains a serious threat to Christian women and girls.”

“Christian men in Cuba often face arrest and harassment because they are more likely to be leaders who criticize the government. They can be fined, have their Christian books taken away, and even receive death threats. House church leaders (often men) report frequent visits from state security agents who threaten their jobs and their children’s education.”

“Men are required to serve in the military, and Christian recruits often face discrimination. Some are forced to take part in military operations that go against their beliefs.”

“The term “type of persecution” is used to describe different situations that provoke hostility towards Christians. The types of persecution of Christians in Cuba are: dictatorial paranoia, communist and post-communist oppression, and secular intolerance.”

” Sources of persecution” are the drivers/executors of hostilities, violent or non-violent, against Christians. They tend to be smaller (radical) groups within the larger group of followers of a particular worldview. Sources of persecution of Christians in Cuba include: government officials, political parties, ideological pressure groups, non-Christian religious leaders, citizens, and gangs.”

Other Comments on Cuban Religious Persecution[3]

“In mid-February, Father Castor José Álvarez Devesa, one of the Catholic priests who suffer repression in Cuba for his open opposition to the regime, said that the authorities have long tried to turn the people against the bishops of the island. “We have Fidel (Castro), who wanted to ignore the bishops of Cuba. Totalitarian rulers try to dominate the heads in order to dominate the body. It is convenient for them to have all the heads within their territory dominated, and when there is an external dependency that is a problem, then they try to directly influence the Vatican,” said the parish priest, who was one of the religious leaders who joined the people during the anti-government protests on July 11 and 12, 2021, for which he was beaten with a bat.” In addition, “Several Cuban religious leaders were tried and sentenced to prison terms following the protests.”

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[1] Open Doors, World Watch List 2025.

[2] Open Doors, Cuba Report 2025.

[3] Cuba is the most dangerous country for Christians in America a report reveals, Diario de Cuba (Feb. 25, 2025).

Last Year, Almost 1,000 Acts Against Religious Freedom in Cuba

Accoding to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, last year at least 996 acts against religious freedom occurred in Cuba, which “reflects an unalterable scenario of violations of the religious rights of citizens, despite government propaganda.” [1]

“In Cuba, religious freedoms continue to be violated in their various forms. It is a mistake to judge the climate of exercise of these rights only from the perspective of Church-State relations. Even from that limited perspective, in 2024 it was evident that they were not going through their best moment if we take into account the regime’s indifference to the local Catholic Church’s demands for the release of political prisoners.”

“Both the legal and bureaucratic limitations against independent churches and the harassment against their members, have repercussions on the common citizen who sees in the Christian communities a helping hand in the midst of so much poverty, especially after the disasters caused by the hurricanes.”

“Among the most frequent violations documented by the OCDH are the prohibition of attendance at mass, fines for religious leaders of churches not recognized by the State, harassment of Christians with a civic commitment, and denial of religious assistance to political prisoners.”

“Particularly, independent Christian churches, which are not recognised by the government and cannot be recognised, have been harassed by State Security. Several of their leaders, especially those who carry out important social work, have been summoned, fined or threatened with more serious legal consequences and confiscations.”

“In Cuba there are more than 60 churches, ministries or Christian congregations without legal recognition, including “Viento Recio” (Las Tunas), “God shakes Cuba and the Nations,””Emmanuel” (Santiago de Cuba) and “Palabra de Fuego Bendición Sagrada” (Camagüey).”

“Religions remain under suspicion. The existence of the Communist Party’s Religious Affairs Office and special counterintelligence units to ‘deal’ with religious leaders and infiltrate and monitor their communities do not correspond to the proclaimed secular character of the State and even less with the purported image of religious tolerance.”

“The climate of legal restrictions and harassment, especially against independent religious movements, affects their social work, since they are denied legal status. This lack of state recognition poses practical problems, for example, in opening institutional bank accounts or hiring employees.”

“At the beginning of 2025, Miguel Díaz-Canel committed to the Holy See to release 553 prisoners under the Jubilee Year, but the process, which has lacked transparency and fair conditions, is on hold at the time of writing this statement.”

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[1] In 2024, almost 1,000 acts against religious freedom took place in Cuba, denounces the OCDH, Diario de Cuba (Jan. 31, 2025).

Cuban Catholic Priests: Island’s Greatest Evil Is Social Fracture Caused by Repression and Fear

Christmas homilies by several Roman Catholic priests in Cuba criticized the defenselessness to which the regime has condemned Cubans.

Father Rodríguez Alegre, a priest of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba, said: ”‘I cry for Cuba because Cuba hurts me. The pain of my brothers hurts me.’ He stressed that Cuba’s greatest evil is not material deprivation, but the loss of truth and the social fracture caused by repression and fear. ‘We have lived in lies and now we do not know how to find the path to truth.’”

Father Jesús Fernando Marcoleta, parish priest in Varadero, “emphasized the transformative character of Christmas as a beacon of light in the midst of darkness: ‘Now that we are suffocated by living without light, the Christmas of Jesus becomes more propitious as it is more night in each one of us and more night in the nation. Every human being has the right to hope, to good hope.’”

“Both priests . . . agreed that the path to the reconstruction of Cuba passes through reconciliation and a return to the values of the Gospel.” Alegre quoted Jose Marti, “”We must discard the barbaric gospel of hatred in order to speak the sweet talk of love.” Marcoleta said, ““Guide, Lord, our steps to the light of your grace. You who always exceed our expectations and are stronger than our fears, allow us to believe in your word.”

Earlier another priest, Father Alberto Reyes “pleaded with Cuba’s rulers to take whatever they want and leave the country forever as the only way to stop ‘everyday being a continuous struggle for survival. You are not going to refloat this country, you are not going to remedy the lack of fuel, nor the precariousness of the thermoelectric plants, nor are you going to give us back a life without continuous blackouts. You are not going to solve the hunger of this people, nor are you going to make the days stop being a continuous struggle for survival. You are not going to solve the monetary problem, nor inflation, nor the miserable life of the people.’”

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Cuba’s greatest evil is the social fracture caused by repression and fear, say Catholic priests on the island, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 28, 2024).

Cuban Churches Helping Cubans Through Dire Times

On November 20, the Alliance of Christians of Cuba issued a declaration signed by over 60 Cuban religious organizations that criticized the Cuban Government’s failure to respect human rights, especially religious freedom.[1] Now one of its members (Teo Babun, the President and CEO of Outreach Aid to the Americas, a nonprofit religious organization) has reiterated that claim.[2] Here is what he said:

“We are witnessing severe difficulties and strive to bring hope to the most vulnerable: the elderly, children, women, men, and family members of political prisoners who suffer the absence of their loved ones simply for exercising their rights.”
“Churches have long been a lifeline for the average Cuban. A midst economic collapse and natural disasters, foreign ministries have provided humanitarian aid through church networks, distributing food, medicine and even toys.”
Yet, their support goes beyond meeting material needs. Since 2018, the evangelical community has spearheaded initiatives opposing totalitarian policies and advocating for political prisoners. Rooted in faith, these actions have made churches targets of government reprisal.”
“International organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), have documented the ongoing persecution of religious leaders in Cuba. CSW reports harassment, threats, fines, and imprisonment of clergy.”
“Children of faith are bullied in schools, and congregations are pressured to ostracize families of political prisoners. Both registered and unregistered religious groups — representing most Cuban Protestants — operate under constant threat.”
“The Cuban government projects a facade of religious tolerance through state-controlled entities like the Cuban Council of Churches. Behind the scenes, the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), an arm of the Communist Party, wields unchecked power to regulate religious organizations, restrict foreign travel and approve worship construction. This tight control suppresses independent faith groups, leaving them vulnerable and marginalized.”
“The ACC Declaration laments these restrictions, particularly as Christmas approaches, a time when churches traditionally mobilize to provide hope and assistance. The grim reality is clear: 89% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, and over 1,000 political prisoners languish in cells, denied even the basic right to religious visits.”
“Cuba’s crises extend far beyond religious persecution. Economic hardship, food and medicine shortages, energy instability, and a collapsing transportation system have created a humanitarian emergency.”
“The Central Bank’s depleted reserves, coupled with skyrocketing inflation, have rendered basic necessities unaffordable for most families. Prolonged blackouts and failing infrastructure worsen an already dire situation.”
“Adding to the strain is a mass exodus of Cubans. Over the past decade, the population has declined from 11.5 million to 10 million. This loss of confidence in governance—even among officials—has left the country teetering on the brink of collapse.”
“Despite these challenges, there is hope. The Cuban people’s deep spiritual commitment is a testament to their resilience. While the government seeks to control faith, it cannot suppress the determination of individuals who place their belief in God above the state.”
“The international community must act. We call for the immediate release of political prisoners, including those jailed for their religious beliefs. Systematic reforms are necessary to restore dignity and freedom in Cuba. Faith-based organizations, international advocacy groups, and democratic nations must amplify their efforts to monitor religious freedom and support the Cuban people’s quest for justice.”
“As we observe Human Rights Month, let us remember Cuba’s faithful who continue to light candles of hope in the darkness. Their courage is a reminder that faith is a powerful force for change, even in the face of repression. Together, we can work toward a future where freedom of belief is not a privilege but a universal right.”

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[1] Alliance of Christians of Cuba‘s Criticism of the Cuban Government’s Failure To Respect Human Rights and Religious Freedom, dwkcommentaries.com (Nov. 21, 2024).

[2] Babun, Churches are helping Cubans through dire times, Miami Herald (Dec. 18, 2024).

Catholic Bishops of Cuba Invite Cubans To Live As Brothers

In their Christmas Message, “The Sun that Rises from Above Will Visit Us,” the Catholic Bishops of the island said, ” Aware of the difficult realities that our people face, we invite our entire Church and Cuban people to continue praying for Cuba and to allow themselves to be found by Jesus.” Their message also said the following:

“On April 15, the Bishops of Cuba invited you to pray, to pray for our people at the end of all Masses, during the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, on a personal and community level. We now renew this call, being aware that prayer has the power to transform hearts, the realities of death, and to turn us back to God.”
“Let us persevere in praying for Cuba, and let us not stop praying for anything.Prayer is the most effective and proper service that the Church can offer to our people, together with all the charitable and supportive initiatives that generate hope in the midst of the difficulties we face.”
“Every human being hopes. In our hearts there is a deep longing for love and peace, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for truth and justice, for freedom and prosperity.To fulfill these desires, the Church, also in Cuba, invites all men to allow themselves to be found by Jesus Christ, ‘our hope’, and to work together seeking the good of all, thus building a Nation where we all live as brothers,”
The bishops also reaffirmed their intention to “send Cuban families a message of closeness and encouragement in the face of the difficult realities that too many of them have to face every day.”
“May the Holy Virgin and her husband Saint Joseph, who gave us the Child Jesus on the first Christmas in history, help us to live these holy days authentically, so that all the situations of darkness and gloom that weigh on our people and all of humanity may open to the hope that springs forth.”

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The Christmas message of the Catholic Bishops of Cuba invites us to build ‘a nation where we all live as brothers,’ Diario de Cuba (Dec. 19, 2024).

Alliance of Christians of Cuba’s Criticism of Regime’s Human Rights

On November 20, the Alliance of Christians of Cuba (a group of about 60 leaders of registered and unregistered religious denominations and networks as well as leaders of independent churches on the island) issued a declaration criticizing the Cuban government’s failure to respect human rights. It asked international diplomacy and free countries to pressure the Cuban government “so that there is a bridge that allows Cuba and its citizens to live in a State where their rights as human beings are respected.“[1]

“It is no secret that our nation is facing a crisis in the political, social and economic spheres, as well as in human rights issues. As religious leaders, we are witnesses to these difficulties and we strive to provide hope to the most vulnerable: the elderly, children, women and relatives of political prisoners who suffer the absence of their loved ones for simply exercising their rights.”

“We observe with dismay that the Cuban State refuses to open spaces for the exercise of fundamental rights, such as freedom of association, which limits the churches in their capacity to provide support and social assistance to those who need it most. In addition, we have witnessed more than 40 femicides in the last year, a reflection of the serious state of violence in our society,”

“We have documented more than one million pesos collected by the Government in fines imposed on religious leaders, which represents a direct attack on freedom of worship and those who seek to help their community.”

“Those who suffer most from this critical situation in the country are women, who face the anguish of not having anything to feed their children. Those who dare to ask for help or demand some right are cruelly repressed, regardless of whether they are teenagers, elderly or have children in their arms. This repression only aggravates their suffering and further limits their chances of finding relief in the midst of the crisis.”

“The situation is even more alarming when you consider that 89% of the population lives in extreme poverty and that there has been no freedom for the more than 1,000 political prisoners currently in [detention]. We are also deeply concerned about the elderly and the chronically ill, who are especially vulnerable in this context.”

“The Alliance of Christians of Cuba was founded in November 2022 . . . Its main objective is to fight for freedom of association and worship on the island, and to work for the release of political prisoners, who currently number more than 1,000.” This Declaration was signed by 63 of its leaders.

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[1] Alliance of Christians of Cuba: “The Cuban State refuses to open spaces for the exercise of fundamental rights,” Diario de Cuba (Nov, 21, 2024). Religious leaders call for international attention to Cuba’s targeting of religious groups, CSW Global (Nov. 21, 2024); SW Global, alliance of christians of cuba (list of articles about Christians of Cuba).

State of Minnesota Has Declining Number of Births

In 2023 the State of Minnesota had 61,715 children born in the state. This was a decline from the peak of 73,735 births in 2007. “The pattern of declining births is consistent across racial and ethnic groups, and it’s visible everywhere from the state’s urban core to its rural corners.”[1]

“More women [in the state] are also choosing not to get pregnant, at least for now, because they are anxious about costs, access to child care, and the political and environmental futures in which they would raise children, said Kathrine Simon, an Allina Health midwife. Moreover, “births among Minnesotans (women] 15 to 19 have fallen 33% since 2016 — a hard-won outcome following public health campaigns to convince teens that unplanned pregnancies can hurt their futures. But births also are declining among women 20 to 34, despite a generational uptick in young adults in their childbearing years.”

Over the next decade, this “decline will accelerate . . . when millennials exit that age range and the smaller Generation Z enters it, said Susan Brower, Minnesota’s state demographer. “That’s going to have kind of echo effects into the future.”

This decline “has already had an impact, forcing some small hospitals to close their delivery units, and will eventually hit Minnesota in its pocketbook,” Brower said.

“Over time, fewer children will result in fewer workers — from doctors to farmers to bankers to builders. That will mean fewer people making Target runs, buying Vikings tickets and paying taxes to keep up Minnesota’s infrastructure. . . . Eventually, and it’s already happening, we won’t be able to find people to do some of these essential services … to keep our economy and our society going.”

“Eventually, and it’s already happening, we won’t be able to find people to do some of these essential services … to keep our economy and our society going.”

“International immigration has sustained growth in Minnesota’s population and employment base for decades. The Hmong population that started with refugees fleeing Southeast Asia in the late 20th century has tripled in Minnesota since 2000. If not for immigrants who started new families in Minnesota, the state’s decline in births would be sharper, Brower said.”

Conclusion

This blog already has commented on the aging and declining population in the U.S. and many other countries in the world and the many problems that creates for those countries. Encouraging the immigration of people from other countries, including medical doctors and other medical personnel, is one way to counter these negative effects. [2]

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[1] Olson, Reversing Minnesota’s declining birthrate is costly—and controversial, StarTribune (Nov. 9, 2024).

[2] E.g., Support for Immigration from Nicholas Eberstadt and George Will, dwkcommentaries.com. (Oct.23, 2024).

DDC Forum: For the Cuba of Tomorrow

The Latin American Conference on Investigative Journalism (COLPIN) is holding its 2024 sessions in Madrid, Spain, October 23-26, with participants from more than 15 countries.

A major event at this Conference on October 24 and 25 was the production of the “DDC Forum: For the Cuba of Tomorrow” organized by Diaria de Cuba (DDC), the Cuban daily Internet diary about Cuba (in Spanish and English).[1] Here is a list of 20 of the Forum’s programs:[2]

“We are experiencing a national crisis that affects all families”
“The recovery of historical memory and the status of citizen in Cuba is essential”
“Cuban citizens want a change of system”
“Creating spaces for dialogue is one of the fundamental roles of civil society”
“I hope Cuba will be free soon, the current situation is decisive”
“Cuba, democratic transition and international panorama”
“It is the political system model that is hindering Cuba’s development and the beginning of its recovery”
“Cuban society is democratizing itself in a fast, open and plural way”
“The situation in Cuba is unsustainable, we are getting closer to change”
“Changes in Cuba depend on our ability to articulate”
“Is the current crisis in Cuba an opportunity?”
“Cuba needs to reconcile with itself and its diaspora”
“The crisis taking place today in Cuba is induced and irreversible”
“Cuba: What moves or paralyzes citizens today?”
“Power in Cuba is undergoing mutations that deepen its most negative features”
“If we do not analyze today’s problems, we will not be able to think of solutions for the Cuba of tomorrow”
“The system’s narrative is exhausted and it is imperative to approach the formation of a possible Cuba”
Trying to negotiate a transition with Miguel Diaz-Canel today would be a farce”
“Achieving a sustainable energy matrix depends on a progressive economy”
“With GAESA there is no country”

Reactions

These programs deserve careful study by everyone who is interested in the future of Cuba as it struggles with its many problems, including its current electrical crisis. These programs also indirectly and strongly support the United States ending its embargo (blockade) of the island and its designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and returning to the Obama Administration’s many decisions to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba.[3]

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[1] COLPIN, the great event of investigative journalism in Latin America, will be held in Madrid, Diario de Cuba (Sept. 25, 2024); Rosas, DDC in forum: ‘For the Cuba of tomorrow,”’ Diaria de Cuba (Sept. 25, 2024);

[2] [Details on 20 of DDC Forum’s Programs], Diario de Cuba (10/25/24). [Actual details on these programs will be discussed in future posts as they are revealed on Diario de Cuba.]

[3] See list of posts to dwkcommentaries in U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization), 2014; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization ), 2015; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization), 2016; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization), 2017 in List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: Cuba [as of 5/4/20].