Christians in Cuba Claim Government Harassing Their Families

Cuba: Church Leaders Denounce Government Threats to Destroy Church Property in Camaguey
ICC Note:
The Apostolic Movement, a network of Protestant Churches in Cuba claims that the Government is threatening to destroy Church property and threatening the family members of the Church.  Christian Solidarity Worldwide says, “Once again we call on the Cuban government to uphold the religious freedom of all its citizens and to instruct government officials at the national, provincial and municipal levels to cease their harassment of the Apostolic Movement and other religious groups.”
By Dan Wooding
01/11/2013 Cuba (ANS) – Leaders of the Apostolic Movement, a fast-growing unregistered network of protestant churches, have condemned threats by government officials to destroy church property in the central Cuban city of Camaguey. They are also calling on the government to cease its harassment of relatives of church members.
According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Pastor Bernardo de Quesada, a national leader of the church group, has publicly denounced an order from the Provincial Ministry of Housing that he and his wife demolish an outdoor covered patio, used by the church for meetings.
Church leaders also complained that the Cuban government is targeting the family members of its leaders, some of whom are not otherwise associated with the religious group.
“In one particularly egregious case, the government has cut off the electricity to the Camaguey home of decorated retired military officer Lieutenant Colonel Orlando Porfirio and his 69 year old wife Nuvia Ortiz Acosta, in what they believe is an attempt to put pressure on their adult son, a worship leader in a church affiliated with the Apostolic Movement,” said a CSW spokesperson.
The Apostolic Movement has come under particular attack by government officials in recent years. Churches affiliated with the group have been subjected to repeated fines and had property confiscated or destroyed. A number of its leaders, including Pastor Omar Gude Perez, have been imprisoned for various lengths of time.
Officials at the Central Committee for the Cuban Communist Party’s Office for Religious Affairs (ORA) have refused attempts to register the religious group. In 2010, CSW published a video of the head of ORA, Caridad Diego, speaking openly about the government’s attempts to eradicate the group.
Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said, “Once again we call on the Cuban government to uphold the religious freedom of all its citizens and to instruct government officials at the national, provincial and municipal levels to cease their harassment of the Apostolic Movement and other religious groups.
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