EWTN News
Havana prepares for eucharistic congress
Boston's Cardinal Law to Address Symposium
26-Nov-2000 -- ZENIT News Agency
HAVANA, (ZENIT.org).- The Archdiocese of Havana is gearing up for
Eucharistic Congress which will gather Cuban and foreign Catholic leaders in the
Cuban capital.
In a press conference Wednesday, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, archbishop of
Havana, said, "The Church is not an institution, which remembers its
founder, but the prolongation of the living Christ in history, present in the
midst of men. This is the reason why we are celebrating a Eucharistic Congress."
The Dec. 8-10 event will not be a "national" congress for "practical
reasons," he said, but "in some way the bishops and faithful of other
dioceses will also associate themselves." He called it "the central
act of homage to Jesus Christ in this holy Jubilee Year."
In preparation for the congress, the Church in Havana has organized a
eucharistic symposium from Dec. 5 to 7. About 160 representatives from all Cuban
dioceses are expected to attend. Among the foreign guests expected are Cardinal
Bernard Law, archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, who will speak on the topic, "Jesus,
Bread of Life for a New World."
Also expected to attend are Bishop Carlos Aguiar of Texcoco, Mexico,
secretary-general of the Latin American bishops' council (CELAM); Bishop José
L. Lacunza of Chitré, Panama; and Auxiliary Bishop Francisco Arnáiz
of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.
About 1,500 children will make their first Communion during a public Mass on
Dec. 9. That night, hundreds of youths from the 11 dioceses of Cuba are expected
in Havana; they will attend a eucharistic vigil in Havana's Cathedral, preached
by Mexican Father José Prado. The congress will close with a Mass on Dec.
10.
The last National Eucharistic Congress was held in Cuba in 1947. Then,
participants heard a recorded message from Pope Pius XII.
During the press conference, Cardinal Ortega mentioned his forthcoming visit
to El Salvador, from Nov. 25-27, as the Holy Father's special envoy to the
National Eucharistic Congress being held in that Central American country.
Questioned about the arrest in Panama of Luis Posadas Carriles, a well-known
opponent of the Cuban revolution, Cardinal Ortega said the matter "must
follow the legal route, according to the laws and agreements between countries."
Cuba has requested the extradition of Posadas Carriles, 72, who is accused
of terrorist acts and of trying to kill President Fidel Castro. Cuban
authorities link Posadas Carriles with about a dozen bombings of Havana tourist
locales in 1997, including one that killed an Italian tourist. Shortly after,
two Salvadoran citizens were arrested for the acts, tried and sentenced to
death. Cardinal Ortega said that at the time he appealed to Castro to commute
the death penalty.
Cuban parents denounce "anti-religious bigotry" in schools
21-Nov-2000 -- EWTN News Brief
HAVANA, Nov. 21, 00 (CWNews.com) - The parents of 5th grade students have
accused the teachers and director of a school located in the Aguada de Pasajeros
county in Havana of "anti-religious bigotry."
The parents of the children reacted with outrage after teacher Olga Lidia
said that it was forbidden to bring any kind of religious images to the school.
Lidia gave the order after she found a child dropping a holy card of Our Lady of
Charity, the Patroness of Cuba.
The teacher tore the holy card and said that school policy requires students
to refrain from bringing "any kind of religious images." Several
parents came to school to complain to the principal, accusing Lidia of "anti-religious
bigotry," but he rejected them and told them that education in Communist
Cuba "is a duty of the state and not the right of the parents." | 