AREQUIPA, Peru – Authorities of the Cuban regime prohibited the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in El Vedado, Havana, from carrying out the Holy Burial procession, a journey that is part of Holy Week.
The fact was revealed in a statement from the religious institution itself on Facebook, through which the reasons behind the cancellation were explained to the Cuban faithful.
“Yesterday I was informed through the relevant channels that the procession of the Holy Burial that had been opportunely requested would not be approved through the streets of Vedado as has been done for more than eleven years,” the text states.
According to the note, the procession in question had been carried out every year with the exception of the recent pandemic period. This would be the second year that the regime prohibits the execution of religious acts.
“In the case of last year due to lack of personnel to guarantee security. On this occasion the refusal was given in relation to me,” the parish priest wrote.
In this regard, the religious guide explained that his homilies or preachings “make some people uncomfortable or nervous,” and stated that the cancellation not only affected him but also his parishioners.
“The request for the procession is not an initiative of the parish priest, it is the result of the desire of the parishioner and therefore of the people who want to publicly manifest their faith (…) it is therefore a sovereign right of the Holy Faithful People of God. Denying it as punishment to a parish priest is, in addition to being absurd, a violation of religious freedom,” he asserted.
Likewise, the parish priest clarified that it is not the responsibility of homilies to make political harangues, but rather to read reality from the Gospel.
“If anyone has wanted to see something else in my homilies, whether from within or without, their vision is neither correct nor well-intentioned,” the statement indicates.
However, according to the text, the procession of the Holy Burial will take place through the internal premises of the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “on Good Friday at 6 in the afternoon.”
On the other hand, the prohibitions on processions for Holy Week have been extended to other regions of the country such as in the diocese of Bayamo-Manzanillo, province of Granma, as reported to CubaNet a source within the Catholic Church who requested anonymity.
The denial of the permit was notified by Bismar Quesada, who is in charge of the Bayamo branch of the Office of Attention to Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
“They did not give explanations, they never do; They only say yes or no,” the source explained.
La ONG Prisoners Defenders (PD) denounced the prohibition of the procession in the city of Bayamo and stated that this was an example of the lack of religious freedom on the Island.
Follow our channel WhatsApp. Receive information from CubaNet on your cell phone through Telegram.
2024-03-28 03:02:10
#Holy #Week #religious #repression #Cuba
