An Unbreakable Alliance
Brazilian Dominican Friar, Frei Betto, sent two copies of the book Fidel & Religion to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution and Army General Raúl Castro Ruz
Author: Lissy Rodríguez | lissy@granma.cu
April 7, 2015 09:04:43
Representatives of religious institutions and fraternal associations, and guests from various countries attending the Research Assembly of the Cuban Council of Churches, convened in Havana on April 6, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fidel's encounter on April 2, 1990, with leaders of Cuba's protestant and evangelical churches and Jewish community; and the 30th anniversary of the publication of the book, Fidel & Religion; events which marked a new stage in relations between the Revolution, religious institutions and believers.
Canel led the celebrations commemorating the 25th anniversary of Fidel’s encounter on April 2, 1990, with leaders of Cuba’s protestant and evangelical churches and the Jewish community, and the 30 anniversary of the publication of the book, Fidel & Religion. Photo: Jose M. Correa
With the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers; José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat and head of the International Relations department; and Brazilian Dominican Friar, Frei Betto, author of Fidel & Religion, the significance of the book which, as described in its preface, lifts the veil thrown over the possibility of closer ties between Christians and communists, was recalled.
In his speech, Frei Betto described the circumstances which led to the conversion of 23 hours of conversations into the book, and stated that he felt moved to also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba, and to have shared "so many difficult moments and so many glorious triumphs."
In regards to the impact of the work, published in 24 countries, and with 1,300,000 copies sold on the island alone, Frei Betto stated that it is about "a life which experienced faith, religion…It was the first time that a head of state of a socialist country and leader of a Communist Party had publicly spoken about religion in a positive way. It is a book which has enabled us to understand that faith is both a subjective and objective experience, as it is a social phenomenon," he stated, minutes after presenting two copies of the work to Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez for Fidel and Raúl.
Joel Ortega Dopico, president of the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC), commented on the importance of what is a "genuine research document, a material of unequalled historical character.
"I believe it should continue to be studied and read in seminars, universities and schools...Without this book I would not have been able to understand what it means to be a true Christian," he stated.
In a statement to Granma, Adolfo Ham, president of the CIC and protagonist of the meeting with Fidel 25 years ago, emphasized that the encounter was another step on the road toward positive relations, which "made us realize that we had to commit ourselves to solving society's problems together with the State."
Author: Lissy Rodríguez | lissy@granma.cu
April 7, 2015 09:04:43
Representatives of religious institutions and fraternal associations, and guests from various countries attending the Research Assembly of the Cuban Council of Churches, convened in Havana on April 6, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fidel's encounter on April 2, 1990, with leaders of Cuba's protestant and evangelical churches and Jewish community; and the 30th anniversary of the publication of the book, Fidel & Religion; events which marked a new stage in relations between the Revolution, religious institutions and believers.
Canel led the celebrations commemorating the 25th anniversary of Fidel’s encounter on April 2, 1990, with leaders of Cuba’s protestant and evangelical churches and the Jewish community, and the 30 anniversary of the publication of the book, Fidel & Religion. Photo: Jose M. Correa
With the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers; José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat and head of the International Relations department; and Brazilian Dominican Friar, Frei Betto, author of Fidel & Religion, the significance of the book which, as described in its preface, lifts the veil thrown over the possibility of closer ties between Christians and communists, was recalled.
In his speech, Frei Betto described the circumstances which led to the conversion of 23 hours of conversations into the book, and stated that he felt moved to also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba, and to have shared "so many difficult moments and so many glorious triumphs."
In regards to the impact of the work, published in 24 countries, and with 1,300,000 copies sold on the island alone, Frei Betto stated that it is about "a life which experienced faith, religion…It was the first time that a head of state of a socialist country and leader of a Communist Party had publicly spoken about religion in a positive way. It is a book which has enabled us to understand that faith is both a subjective and objective experience, as it is a social phenomenon," he stated, minutes after presenting two copies of the work to Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez for Fidel and Raúl.
Joel Ortega Dopico, president of the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC), commented on the importance of what is a "genuine research document, a material of unequalled historical character.
"I believe it should continue to be studied and read in seminars, universities and schools...Without this book I would not have been able to understand what it means to be a true Christian," he stated.
In a statement to Granma, Adolfo Ham, president of the CIC and protagonist of the meeting with Fidel 25 years ago, emphasized that the encounter was another step on the road toward positive relations, which "made us realize that we had to commit ourselves to solving society's problems together with the State."
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