Unmasking Deception – FoRB Cuba

Many U.S. church leaders can be uninformed and even naïve when it comes to understanding just how a repressive communist system operates. Through the ORA and CCC, the Cuban Communist Party directly and/or indirectly intimidates U.S. churches and their missions, often without their knowledge. They take advantage of vulnerabilities stemming from a Christ-based willingness to extend fellowship and charity–values inherent in Christian work such as basic trust in human goodness, a willingness to be self-sacrificing to do God’s work, and an assumption of mutual goodwill and understanding.

Sadly, Cuba’s tactics are paying off. U.S. church leaders can be so eager to expand into Cuba that they fail to recognize government persecution, mistakenly accepting officials’ word that the persecuted worshippers are political dissidents. In fact, instead of advocating for religious freedoms and showing solidarity with those who are victimized, the mere hint of Cuban displeasure has evoked a fear of retaliation among U.S. church leaders, triggering a troubling shift in attitudes.

For example, after having any type of contact with local religious leaders, or even with a U.S. ministry that the Cuban government deems “unacceptable,” U.S. leaders often strain to get back into the government’s good graces to avoid jeopardizing their work on the island. They may even go so far as to publicly declare solidarity and “friendly relations” with the CCC. This misguided step is often justified to defend their “greater Evangelical mission to do God’s work in Cuba.”

As a result, many U.S. churches and ministries now hesitate to speak out on sensitive issues. They do not partner with blacklisted organizations, do not associate with “dissident” pastors or priests, and are careful not to write or publish posts, blogs, articles or videos that portray Cuba as a violator of religious freedom.

Put this down as yet another win for the communist party’s psychological pressure tactics. It is highly unlikely that in the future any large U.S. church or ministry will dare communicate with “dissident” leaders –who often advocate for basic rights required by the religious community. Indeed, many current U.S. evangelical leaders have adopted a deferential—some would say sycophantic—approach toward Havana, soft-pedaling freedom of religion and human rights.

What is more, it is not unusual to find large churches in the U.S. actually helping to bankroll the ORA and the CCC. In 2017 the U.S. State Department granted visas to officers of ORA to visit churches throughout the United States. Many churches donated money, believing they were supporting an entity that helped the Cuban church and people of faith. This fraud must be exposed.

In reality, they were financially supporting the two major egregious freedom of religion violators in Cuba. ORA and the CCC suppress freedom of religion on the island by manipulating the bureaucracy to make it exceedingly difficult for ordinary Cubans to practice their faith. Christians are frequently denied permits for new buildings, concerts, film screenings, or outdoor activities. They are discouraged from importing religious materials or aid. They are harassed, detained, and even prohibited from studying, assembling, and speaking about their faith.

U.S. churches, organizations, and the U.S. government should remain vigilant to prevent becoming unwittingly complicit in these violations of basic human rights. They need to be conscious of how they can be pressured to the point that they look the other way when the government limits and curtails freedom of religion on the island. They need to employ their powers of discernment and reasoning when engaging with Cuban officials, and not rush to trust the words of a regime that has administered a powerful propaganda machine for more than half a century.

Those seeking to work in Cuba must study, reflect on, and discuss their commitment to the basic Human Freedoms of ordinary Cubans. They need to do their homework before sending funding or missions-minded people to Cuba, and make sure that their grants and donations do not unintentionally fund government efforts to curtail religious freedoms and basic human rights. And when they engage with the ORA and CCC, they should keep their eyes wide open.