They should find "other legal ways" to protect gay unions, Cuban archbishop Dionisio Garcia says.

Garcia was responding to efforts made by Cuban dictator Raúl Castro's daughter Mariela, who is pressing to have gay marriage legalised in Cuba.

This means marriage will need to be legally redefined. Castro has suggested by replacing the terms "man and woman" with "two people."

The redefinition of marriage has now been approved by the National Assembly and is currently undergoing a popular consultation.

However, Garcia says Cubans should find "other legal ways" to protect gay unions that don't include changing the "definition of an institution of the natural order, such as marriage."

Garcia says redefining the institution of marriage in the constitution "worries many."

This is because it could lead to the legalisation of gay marriage, or adoption by same-sex couples, "depriving them from birth of having a mother or a father."

He also says the constitutional re-definition of marriage could lead to a change in the content of what children are taught in schools.

The new definition of marriage being a ‘voluntary and consensual union between two people' is not correct, Garcia says.

He points out that human beings are either "men or women," and each sex has its own "particularities and genetic, physical, biological and psychological differences, in such a way that they complement each other."

This complementarity is expressed in a "unique and singular way" in marriage, Garcia notes.

To ignore "what has been given to us by nature or to go against the laws and process inscribed even genetically in our being carries regrettable consequences," that can be either immediate or manifest themselves over the years, he says.

Source

• Crux Now
• Rappler
• Image: Catholic Herald

The late Cuban leader had a volatile connection with the Catholic church.

Major changes to Cuba's one-party Communist system are predicted.

Castro's brother, Raul, has led Cuba since 2006 when illness forced Fidel to retire.

He has released dozens of political prisoners under deals with the United States and the Roman Catholic Church.

Although Raul Castro has done little more for Catholics, Enrique Pumar, says Fidels's death could encourage the church to take a more proactive role in Cuba.

Pumar is head of the Sociology Department at Catholic University of America and has studied the Catholic Church in Cuba.

This is definitely an opportunity," Pumar said.

"Raúl is going to be more open to the church. But this is going to happen gradually. That's the way change takes place in Cuba."

Another commentator, Ted Henken, who is a Baruch College Latino studies professor and Cuba scholar says church leaders could now "hope to reap further gains in a post-Fidel Cuba.

"The Catholic Church has very wisely — politically, strategically — positioned itself for this day," he said.

Pumar says the church could push for parochial schools to be more accepted in Cuba. At present they are restricted.

The church could also actively participate in brokering discussions between civil society and state leaders, he said.

"A lot of people recognize this is not going to be settled on any battleground," Pumar said. "There has to be some form of conversation and negotiation."

Source

• Reuters
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Slate

The Pontiff told the crowd that "service is never ideological".

Speaking in a plaza dominated by a towering portrait of revolutionary Che Guevara, the Pope told the crowd they should "serve people, not ideas".

He added that the faithful "are called by virtue of our Christian vocation to that service which truly serves, and to help one another and not to be tempted by a 'service' which is really 'self-serving'".

Francis added: "There is a way to go about serving which is interested in only helping 'my people', in the name of 'our people'," he said.

"This service always leaves 'your people' outside, and gives rise to a dynamic of exclusion."

His words appear to take aim at President Raul Castro and the communist regime which many Cubans still complain have control over almost every aspect of life.

Anyone who steps out of line or is perceived as being disloyal in Cuba is at risk of losing their benefits.

But even as the Pope spoke, reports emerged that dozens of activists were being arrested.

Hundreds of thousands of people had turned out to watch the Pontiff's service this morning, including the current President Castro and the president of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Later that day, the Pope met with Fidel Castro and his wife and family.

The Pontiff presented the former president, 89,

The Pontiff presented the former president, 89, with copies of "Laudato Si'" and "Evangelii Gaudium" as well as a book on happiness and the spiritual life by Italian priest Fr Alexandro Pronzato.

Castro, the nation's former dictator, gave Francis a collection of his own conversations about religion with Brazilian cleric Frei Betto.

Vatican spokesman Fr Frederico Lombardi, SJ, said the half hour meeting had been a "very informal conversation".

Sources

• Daily Mail
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Telesurtv

Mr Castro and his brother Fidel suppressed the church in communist Cuba for more than half a century.

President Raul Castro had a private meeting with the Pope in Rome on Monday.

He thanked the Pope for his mediation role in the recent thawing of relations between Cuba and the United States.

Afterwards, Mr Castro revealed that he admires the Pope as a champion of the poor, and that he reads all of his speeches.

He said: "If the Pope continues to talk as he does, sooner or later I will start praying again and return to the Catholic Church - I am not kidding."

"When the Pope goes to Cuba in September, I promise to go to all his Masses, and with satisfaction," he said.

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