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Yahoo! May 29, 2002.
HAVANA (AP) - A well-known priest in Cuba's Roman Catholic Church attacked
the U.S. media Tuesday for its "sensational" reporting of the sex
abuse scandals in the United States.
In the Cuban church's first official response to the scandals haunting
America's Roman Catholic leadership, Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, vicar
general of Havana, complained of the "aggressive and sensationalistic
presentation" of alleged sex abuse by U.S. priests.
Cespedes is well-known both as a voice in the church and as a descendent of
Cuban independence hero Carlos Manuel de Cespedes.
"No medium has dared to use the same kind of vitriol in dealing with
other religious groups, professional groups, or the institution of the family,"
Cespedes wrote in the Cuban church publication Nueva Palabra — The New
Word. "So why the Catholic Church?"
"It is also good to clarify that the United States of America is not
exclusive to this type of problem, and of sexual crimes by priests generally,"
Cespedes wrote.
"Unfortunately, similar cases can occur and have occurred almost
everywhere, even in our country," said Cespedes. He offered no details on
similar cases in Cuba.
The prelate also expressed his support of Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston,
who has become a lightning rod for criticism since March when he gave
prosecutors the names of at least 80 priests accused of sexually abusing minors.
Pope John Paul II in April summoned U.S. cardinals to the Vatican to
discuss the sex scandals. He condemned sexual abuse by priests as criminal, and
said there is no room in the priesthood for those who engage in such behavior.
Nicot is the provincial coordinator in Holguín of the National
Council for Civil Rights. His arrest came hours after he met with other
activists to plan a march to the provincial prison to demand freedom for
political prisoners.
Nicot’s parents and other area activists say his arrest is due to his
anti-government activism and the threat charges are just a ruse.
Versión
original en español
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