Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

PCUSA pastoral letter to Cuban churches blames US for problems in the communist nation
Christian Post ^ | 07/31/2021 | Michael Gryboski

Posted on 07/31/2021 8:08:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

A letter by an official with the Presbyterian Church (USA) to Christians living in Cuba declared their support for the nation’s people, but blamed United States' foreign policy for its poverty and instability while lacking any mention of communism or government repression.

Recently, due to factors including medical supply issues and an economic depression, there have been widespread protests in Cuba against the communist government, which has been in power since 1959.

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Advocacy Offices, penned a letter that was published last Friday in response to the protests in Cuba.

In the letter, addressed to “Cuban Siblings in Christ,” Hawkins wrote that PCUSA expressed its “solidarity to the Synod of the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba, to your local congregations, presbyteries, and especially to each one of your members and their families.”

Hawkins went on to say that he and his denomination “recognize and confess the part our country plays in the suffering of the Cuban people.”

“The imposition of a blockade has restricted the Cuban economy for decades. Generations of Cuban men and women have been suffering from a lack of material resources, medicines, food, etc. U.S. policy has hindered the ability for Cuban families to maintain contacts between those who live on the island and the Cuban community abroad,” he continued.

“In the case of our Churches, U.S. policy has caused difficulties in normal relations with our partners. But we continue to be committed to fostering a new momentum of hope for both countries.”

The official letter made no reference to communism or the abuses of the current regime, other than to note that they believe in “God’s sovereignty and God’s ability to work through leaders and nations with different beliefs” and that “we should not absolutize or demonize our political antagonists.”

“May the God of peace and reconciliation shed light upon your lives during these times of trouble and give you wisdom for working towards the much-needed reconciliation process,” Hawkins concluded.

The Christian Post reached out to PCUSA for an explanation, with a spokesperson emailing a joint statement by Catherine Gordon, representative for International Issues in the Office of Public Witness and Valdir França, area coordinator for Latin America & the Caribbean in Presbyterian World Mission.

The statement explained that the letter was specifically centered on “our siblings in Christ in the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba who have requested prayers and solidarity during this difficult time.”

The PCUSA's statement also explained that the progressive mainline denomination’s General Assembly has, in the past, denounced “all limitations on human rights in Cuba.”

Mark Tooley, president of the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy, told CP that he believed that the letter was “in sync with a long tradition” of PCUSA responding “to anti-regime protests in Cuba by blaming America for Cuba’s problems.”

“For decades the PCUSA and other mainline denominations have been mostly silent on communist totalitarian repression in Cuba. Some church officials have even praised it,” said Tooley.

“In contrast, the Methodist Church in Cuba recently and courageously declared the Cuban people have a right to free speech. Churches should stand for freedom and human dignity.”

For their part, the PCUSA's National Hispanic Latin Presbyterian Caucus released its own statement on the Cuban crisis on Tuesday.

They also called for the U.S. to end its economic measures against the island nation, but also denounced “the acts of repression by government authorities against those who demonstrate peacefully.”


TOPICS: Mainline Protestant; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: communism; cuba; pastoralletter; pcusa

1 posted on 07/31/2021 8:08:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Bkmk


2 posted on 07/31/2021 8:10:24 PM PDT by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has gone Commie?


3 posted on 07/31/2021 8:14:13 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Critical Marx Theory is The SOLUTION....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Most of the US has. Led by the LGBT lobby which, if it’s not obvious now, is a communist front.


4 posted on 07/31/2021 8:16:36 PM PDT by Skywise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Skywise

Khrushchev is laughing his butt off.


5 posted on 07/31/2021 8:21:25 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Critical Marx Theory is The SOLUTION....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Fake religion.


6 posted on 07/31/2021 8:25:26 PM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NWFree

Tax ‘Em!


7 posted on 07/31/2021 8:28:26 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

PC in their name stands for Politically Correct. We left them in 1968.


8 posted on 07/31/2021 8:29:23 PM PDT by lurk ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Ages ago. This is par for the course for them.


9 posted on 07/31/2021 8:31:50 PM PDT by xp38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

so is gorbachev


10 posted on 07/31/2021 8:46:37 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

the PCUSA have been Commie shills for decades....

How anyone attends their services, let alone gives them money, is beyond me...

What they pass off as gospel is heresy on every level.


11 posted on 07/31/2021 8:51:15 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The Soviets propped up the Cuban economy the tune of billions of dollars a year for decades and,when that dried up, the economy took a big hit. I don’t know how it was in the interest of the United States to aid a regime that has been involved fomenting communist revolution around the world, supporting terrorism and, if I recall correctly, has been involved in narcotics trafficking. I’d like to hear what the holy men and women of the PCUSA have to say about that.


12 posted on 07/31/2021 8:52:03 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

Cuba has also been a playground for Hollywood pedos, that’s why Hollywood loves Castro so much.


13 posted on 07/31/2021 8:53:44 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

You have to be a lunatic to contribute money, invest time or get emotionally involved with these communist, pseudo Christian denominations.


14 posted on 07/31/2021 8:56:04 PM PDT by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lurk
We left them in 1968.

You saw the writing on the wall early. Just look at their membership chart...



15 posted on 07/31/2021 9:04:23 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Hawkins went on to say that he and his denomination “recognize and confess the part our country plays in the suffering of the Cuban people.”
= = =

Well then. Stop what you are doing wrong so Cuba can stop suffering.

Oh, are you blaming the problem on ‘our country’.

What country are you in?

Trouble you want to change your country to be like Cuba, to cure Cuba’s problems.


16 posted on 07/31/2021 9:08:31 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (My /s is more true than your /science (or you might mean /seance))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Stop preaching the Gospel in the church the church starts to die.


17 posted on 07/31/2021 9:28:12 PM PDT by the_daug ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

18 posted on 07/31/2021 11:35:47 PM PDT by MacNaughton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: the_daug

I grew up in the Presbyterian Church USA but no longer attend except for my home church in another state which is still ok. Nationally, its organization is a cesspit. It started with the 1960s when it became a haven for draft dodgers getting their seminary draft deferment; not really into theology, they brought their leftist social action beliefs with them. Then, the crackpot leadership funded the legal team of communist Angela Davis, when she was on trial for the springing some Black Panthers who murdered a judge and others in escaping a courtroom. They have been consistently kook left ever since and they have lost members like a flood went through the denomination.


19 posted on 08/01/2021 2:20:49 AM PDT by laconic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2
” The Presbyterian Church (USA) has gone Commie?”

The PCUSA has been recognized as “commie” since the 50’s and is why the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) broke away from them.

20 posted on 08/01/2021 4:51:47 AM PDT by Apple Pan Dowdy (... as American as Apple Pie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson