Rev. John L. McCullough's presentation at the March 15 meeting on religious travel to Cuba
Meeting with Church Officials, Members of Congress and Officials at
State and Treasury
Religious Travel Licenses to Cuba
Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
March 15, 2006
Remarks by Rev. John McCullough, Executive Director and CEO
Church World Service
Good morning.
On behalf of this representative gathering of denominations and ecumenical organizations, I want to thank you for the honor of meeting with you today, and for the opportunity to once again articulate and practice the imperatives of our faith and our fundamental rights and privileges guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States.
We have a collective history of missionary and humanitarian activity on the island nation of Cuba that far exceeds the current era. Our zeal to share the good news of our faith, to care for the impoverished, dispossessed, and disaffected has long transcended political ideologies and changes of governments in Cuba, as well as in other parts of the world. Our mission is clear: feed the hungry, care for the orphaned and widowed, comfort the sick, and visit the prisoners. We have long been a key expression of America’s compassionate spirit and response during times when natural disasters have occurred. We helped found new faith communities, some of which are extensions of American denominations. We are not apologetic, this is our mission.
Our meeting today is about more than just the perception that these same rights and privileges are systematically being rescinded with respect to Cuba. Our access to the people of Cuba has in fact been severely limited by OFAC policy. Restricted licenses greatly reduce the ability of U.S. churches to be a Christian presence in Cuba, and to assist Cuban churches in their important faith witness. Relationship and fellowship are at the heart of our understanding of church life and mission. To hinder this activity is to strike at the heart of our religious identity and freedom.
We are concerned about the difficulties and inhospitality accorded Cuban religious leaders when they seek visas and the privilege of coming to the United States to meet with us. Our appeals have largely gone unheard, as if decades of building relationships no longer matter, or that some new Cuban Blockade of Good Will has now been imposed. Since the late 1940s we have engaged with an ecumenical partner in Cuba that enables us to work cooperatively. We have no doubt that the Cuban Council of Churches is an authentic ecumenical Christian expression. For those who question this, we say we are in the best position to know this and are the ones who should make this determination. Together, we have helped build the capacity of, and advocated for the rights of the Cuban people to achieve a higher quality of life for themselves, their neighbors, and for their freedom.
As representatives of millions of American Christians, we call in the strongest possible terms for restoration of the religious travel licenses which we have had for many years. We are not here requesting a rationale for what has in fact taken place over the past two years. We are long past that point as we are dismayed, and even outraged at the loss of these licenses, and what we view as unjustified interference in and hindrance to the mission of the church. We are asking for the rights of our churches and ecumenical organizations to continue our historic work in Cuba to be restored, protected, and respected. We reject any accusation by OFAC that we have misused these licenses, and believe we are entitled to review any evidence that supports this position.
Like all Americans, we are sensitized to the realities of our new world order during the War on Terrorism. We are also aware that some American government officials may not subscribe to the concept of religious freedom in Cuba. We respectfully disagree, and call upon these same leaders to acknowledge the integrity and savvy of our years of experience and relationships. Our hope is that faith will not be manipulated as a tool of international diplomacy.
In a letter [3/15/06] to the Honorable Secretary of the Treasury and the Honorable Secretary of State we state:
The current implementation of religious travel regulations curtails religious freedom, impairs the ability of local congregations to participate in God’s global mission and politicizes the outreach of the Church.
Again, thank you for the privilege of meeting with you today. Our delegation will be pleased to answer questions that you may have of us.
-jlm-
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