{"id":48319,"date":"2022-07-05T08:34:27","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T13:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/?p=48319"},"modified":"2022-07-05T08:34:29","modified_gmt":"2022-07-05T13:34:29","slug":"faith-letter-to-president-biden-on-cuba-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/faith-letter-to-president-biden-on-cuba-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Faith Letter to President Biden on Cuba Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June 29, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear President Biden:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As representatives of faith-based denominations and organizations, many of whom have a long history of relationships with Cuban faith partners, we are writing to thank you and your administration for taking measures to lift some of the harmful restrictions imposed on Cuba and the Cuban people. We appreciate that you have recognized the unprecedented humanitarian situation on the island. We hope these initial positive steps will help increase support for the Cuban people and allow Cuban Americans to assist their families on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, we are still deeply concerned about the situation on the island. Our partners in the Cuban churches\u2014congregants, ministers, and their communities\u2014 continue to experience severe shortages of essential medicines, food, and other vital materials amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. And as you know, the current crisis is causing tens of thousands of Cubans to leave and seek better conditions in the United States. We appreciate State Department officials who expressed their willingness to help churches and denominations get humanitarian relief to Cuban faith-based partners on a case-by-case basis. But this willingness has not solved the problems we face. And the initial measures taken by your administration, while critical first steps, are not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are aware of the political situation in Cuba, and many of our faith organizations have made clear statements supporting the Cuban people\u2019s right to protest peacefully. We hope the Cuban government will respond to protests with dialogue and action. As in other countries, we condemn heavy-handed responses to protests by security forces. We urge the government to release all those detained for peacefully protesting or reporting on the protests. But this political unrest is not a reason to further punish the Cuban people with an overly restrictive implementation of U.S. economic and trade policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that numerous factors have caused Cuba\u2019s economic crisis. However, the U.S. embargo and the changes adopted by the previous administration have contributed to the worsening humanitarian situation the island is facing. We were encouraged by your administration\u2019s initial steps, but we believe you must do more. The U.S. government must take the following steps to remove all obstacles preventing families and faith-based communities in the U.S. from helping families and faith partners in Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n