February 26, 2008

But will it be good or bad for the Christians of Cuba?

LOS ANGELES -- Raul Castro, 76, has been unanimously selected to succeed his brother Fidel as leader by Cuba's National Assembly after Fidel Castro stepped down last week after nearly half a century in charge.

Raul has in effect been president since Fidel had major surgery in July 2006. It is understood that he was the only nominee in a vote seen as a formality.

The US said Raul Castro's appointment offered potential for change but said its embargo would remain until there was a transition to democracy.

"There is a possibility and potential for change in Cuba, but those changes will have to be born inside Cuba," said Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon.

Raul said, "The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution is unique, Fidel is Fidel, as we all know well, he is irreplaceable.”

Dr. Dale Kietzman, the president of Latin American Indian Ministries, who has visited Cuba several times, told ANS that he thought it wouldn’t be much change in the politics of that communist island nation.

“I do think he will be just a little more relaxed about things, a little more orderly,” said Kietzman. “So I think that it actually will be of some benefit to Christians but not directly so.”

He said that Cuba appears to opened up more in recent years for Christians to visit believers there.

“It has it is much more possible for Christians to go there and to visit the churches,” said Kietzman. “Even taking some materials into them is possible. So it is beneficial if Christians do go and show that hand of fellowship to the believers there.”

Dr. Kietzman said that the restrictions of Christians in Cuba helped the Protestants to grow, but hit the Catholics.

“The Catholics probably had a harder time living under the restrictions because they depend on public services and they became more difficult, but the Protestants continued with house churches and things of that sort.”

For more information on Latin American Indian Ministries, go to their website at http://www.laim.org/.

© 2008 ASSIST News Service, used with permission