Untitled - Convivencia

In number 6 of our cited Editorial we reviewedwhat some Cubans hoped the Pope wouldclarify: the authentic concept of freeexpression and performance of Christianreligion: Toward a true religious freedom. ThePope has clearly said that the rights of thefuture generations cannot separate thebeliever condition from the citizen conditionand the citizen’s contribution to the buildingof society. So we conclude that: religiousfreedom is not only freedom of worship orwhat we have called “freedom of permissions”.The law must open and guarantee three thingsfor all without distinction or exclusion: toprofess worship, the exercise of the Christianlabor by present prophets which includesannouncement and denounce; and social,political and economic service. This service isdemanded of believers according to theChristian understanding of the human personand the world.10. The way to changes: teaching how tothink and educating virtuous men.“Cuba and the world need changes but thesechanges will occur only if each person is fit toask himself for the truth and decides himselfto follow the road of love and sowreconciliation and fraternity. An illustriousexample of this work was the notable priestFélix Varela who was an educator and ateacher and a distinguished son of this city ofHavana; he has went down in the history ofCuba as the first man who taught his peoplehow to think. Father Varela shows us the wayto a true social transformation: to educatevirtuous men in order to create a dignifiedand free nation since this transformation willdepend on man’s spiritual life as “there is nofatherland without virtue”. (Cartas a Elpidio,carta sexta, Madrid 1836, 220). (Homilyduring the Mass at the José Martí Civic Squarein Havana). “Before the eyes of the Virgin ofCharity of El Cobre I wish to make an appealto you… so that you live from Christ and forChrist and with the weapons of peace,forgiveness and understanding; so that youfight in order to build an open and renewedsociety, a better society, more worthy of man;a society that should reflect the kindness ofGod more”. (Homily during the Mass at theAntonio Maceo square in Santiago de Cuba).According Felix to Father Félix Varela’s veryCuban teachings the Pope has told us clearlythat Cuba needs changes and that the way andthe spirit of changes must be without trauma.This satisfies some of those expectations ofwide sectors of our society that we reflected itin Editorial 24, to be precise, in number 2: Thespirit that should promote the pacific andgradual structural changes. And in number 7:National reconciliation: truth, justice, amnestyand magnanimity. The portico of this visit wasopen by Benedict XVI in the middle of theflight to Mexico when he expressed. “The wayMarxist ideology was conceived no longercorresponds to reality and the Church isavailable to help changes to be undertakenwithout trauma”. Let’s notice that he does notspeak about the way Marxist ideology was putinto practice in the former USSR or in theSocialist field but about the way it wasconceived. We believe that this clear denouncewhich is one part of the prophetic message ofevery Christian has been excellentlycomplemented by the other part of theprophetic work which is the announcementmade by the very Pope inside Cuba about theway, the style and the protagonists thatshould guarantee changes to be withoutviolence or trauma. Indeed we consider thereare two deep causes as a result of more than60 years of authoritarianism and totalitarianpaternalism that could lead us to violence andtrauma: The anthropological damage due todepersonalization and ethical and civicilliteracy which lead to personal and socialanomy. These root causes of social andpolitical evils should be overcome through anethical and civic education that regeneratesthe human person and pacific coexistence.11. It’s the hour for coexistence andnational dialogue that banish theimmovable positions.“The present hour urgently requires thatimmovable positions and unilateral viewpointsshould be banished from the human nationaland international coexistence; such positionsand viewpoints tend to make understandingmore arduous and tend to make inefficient theeffort for cooperation. The incidentaldiscrepancies and difficulties must be solvedby searching tirelessly what unites us all, withpatient and sincere dialogue, with reciprocalunderstanding and a loyal will for listeningEdiciones ConvivenciaPinar del Río. 2012112