The Cuban Catholic Church has announced its support of US dialogue with Cuba, secondary, of course, to national dialogue in favor of change on the island. New leadership in each country—Raul Castro in Cuba and Barack Obama in the United States—will not alone erase a painful and conflictual history of relations between the two nations, the Church says. But opening up lines of communication could lead to positive advances.
Even if it does not become a priority for the United States, the Church argues that Cuba cannot be ignored because of its proximity to the United States, and its involvement there and internationally. The published piece reads: “… no debe ser ignorada: demasiado cercana; demasiado activa; demasiado influyente a nivel internacional y aún dentro del mismo Estados Unidos.”
Still, whether the Washington warms to relations with Havana or not, the Church holds that change will come from a national dialogue; change on the island will come from Cubans themselves.
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