The SACC has sent the following letter to US President George Bush. Similar letters have been sent by the World Council of Churches and many other ecumenical bodies and denominations.

Dear Mr President

DENIAL OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE CUBAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

The South African Council of Churches is deeply disturbed by the recommendation, contained in the second report of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, that the US Government block the provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba through our sister body, the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC).

This proposal is starkly at odds with the report's more sober assessment that: "It is important [for the US Government] not to appear to take sides in internal Cuban religious affairs or endorse one faith group or set of groups over another." The Commission makes clear that its primary motive for isolating the CCC is its political differences with the church officials who lead Cuba’s ecumenical movement. The report suggests that US policy should rather favour "grassroots clergy and laity" and "other religious groups" whose political and theological views the Commissioners perceive to be more palatable.

Such a blatant attempt to promote certain religious groups over others constitutes an affront to religious freedom and freedom of association in both Cuba and the United States of America. It would obstruct partnerships between faith-based organisations in the United States and the CCC. Not only would this impede the delivery of services and humanitarian assistance to poor and marginalised communities in Cuba, but it would also limit the ways in which US religious institutions could fulfil their calling to joint ministry and witness.

We urge you to reject the Commission's proposal and instead to reaffirm publicly the US Government's willingness to assist all faith-based and civil society organisations to combat poverty and disease in Cuba and to enable all of Cuba’s people to enjoy life in abundance.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Eddie Makue
General Secretary