The issue the Catholic Church has with the Cuban government is not government oppression of gays, which has historically been the rule under Castro, but rather Cuba’s more recent moves toward integrating gays, lesbians and trans folks into society as equal members.
The Church itself, of course, suffered decades of oppression under the Communist regime in Cuba and has only begun to emerge from official disfavor during the last decade or so. It is now demanding “unlimited” scope for its operations there
QUOTE
HAVANA, Feb 22 (IPS) - Ten years after the historic visit to Cuba by Pope John Paul II, who passed away in 2005, the Catholic Church continues to call for "unlimited" scope and "due freedom" for its social action initiatives in this socialist country, as one of its most important demands.
"The Church wishes to expand its action to other areas, without limitations, to contribute unwaveringly to the well-being of the Cuban people," said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, in his homily at a mass celebrated in Havana’s Cathedral Square.
The Cuban Church "hopes to be increasingly present and active in the midst of society, in ways appropriate to today's world, carrying out its urgent mission of teaching, healing, helping the poor and promoting the dignity of all people, whether marginalised, displaced or imprisoned," he said.
"The Church wishes to expand its action to other areas, without limitations, to contribute unwaveringly to the well-being of the Cuban people," said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, in his homily at a mass celebrated in Havana’s Cathedral Square.
The Cuban Church "hopes to be increasingly present and active in the midst of society, in ways appropriate to today's world, carrying out its urgent mission of teaching, healing, helping the poor and promoting the dignity of all people, whether marginalised, displaced or imprisoned," he said.
As part of its mission to promote the “dignity of all people, whether marginalised, displaced or imprisoned” it is protesting government policies aimed at doing just that. The Church is not at all happy about “the communist government's growing support of gay rights, including a daylong event raising awareness against homophobia and a law allowing sex-change operations.”
Wouldn’t want to raise awareness against homophobia or allow sex change operations. That just wouldn’t be Christian. Simply put, the Church is demanding its freedom so that it can more effectively work to deny freedom to others. In other words, the same thing it’s always done. F*cking hypocrites.
Here are the links to the stories I looked at and quoted from.
http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Church_prods...LGBT__0624.html
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/...106/033106o.php
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41312
