Cuban evangelical leaders rejected accusations of espionage and mercenary activity on Nov. 8 after meeting with a U.S. diplomat in Havana.
The pastoral declaration from the Asambleas de Dios de Cuba answered claims that followed a gathering recognizing Mike Hammer, Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy.
The text carries the title “La gratitud no es traición, la diplomacia no es complicidad y servir al pueblo no es un delito,” according to a statement published on Facebook by the entity and reported by cibercuba.com.
Dr. F. Moisés de Prada Esquivel signed the document in his role as General Superintendent of the Iglesia Evangélica Pentecostal de Cuba and Caribbean Superintendent.
“Rechazamos categóricamente las insinuaciones que pretenden presentarnos como espías, agentes de organismos extranjeros, mercenarios o instrumentos al servicio de intereses políticos ajenos a nuestra nación,” De Prada said in the release.
La declaración defiende la ayuda humanitaria de organizaciones norteamericanas
The pastoral declaration defends cooperation between North American Christian organizations and Cuba. The text argues that food, medicine, and economic resources from these groups have aided many families on the island.
The document separates humanitarian engagement from political militancy.
The denomination represents about 300,000 followers in Cuba and belongs to the Alianza de Iglesias Evangélicas en Cuba, which unites nearly one million evangelicals. Over 80% of local congregations lack legal status because the government only recognizes groups registered before 1962.
“No practicamos el partidismo político; ejercemos, cuando resulta necesario, una diplomacia de paz, respeto y cooperación humanitaria,” the statement said.
Repression against religious figures
The church statement arrives as state authorities increase pressure on evangelical leaders with ties to the U.S. Embassy. Pastor Rolando Fidel Pérez Lora was forcibly moved from Havana to Las Tunas on Nov. 7 and threatened with prison over his activism, cibercuba.com reported.
Security agents arrested activist Anthony Martínez a day earlier and held him for over 20 hours.
Officers criticized him for publishing videos and meeting with embassy officials.
A similar incident occurred in October when the officialist profile “El Necio” accused the Convención Bautista Occidental of acting as a CIA recruitment channel. Pastor Bárbaro Abel Marrero dismissed those allegations as baseless.
Preguntas frecuentes sobre la declaración pastoral y las detenciones
What produced the pastoral declaration by the Asambleas de Dios de Cuba? Dr. F. Moisés de Prada Esquivel signed the declaration in his capacity as General Superintendent of the Iglesia Evangélica Pentecostal de Cuba.
* What specific actions have authorities taken against religious leaders?
Pastor Rolando Fidel Pérez Lora was forcibly relocated from Havana to Las Tunas on Nov. 7 and threatened with imprisonment, while activist Anthony Martínez was detained for over 20 hours in early November.
* How many followers do the Asambleas de Dios represent in Cuba? The denomination counts approximately 300,000 followers and participates in the Alianza de Iglesias Evangélicas en Cuba, which encompasses nearly one million evangelicals.
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