Cardinal says deceased Cuban activist was rooted in Catholic faith

Last updated on: July 25, 2012 at 10:06 pm by CNA Daily News

Cardinal says deceased Cuban activist was rooted in Catholic faith 2012-07-25T22:06:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Havana, Cuba, Jul 25, 2012 / 04:06 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Jaime Ortega of Havana recalled his friendship with the leader of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya, saying the late dissident's activism found inspiration in the Catholic faith.

During the funeral Mass on Tuesday for Paya, who died in a car accident on July 22, Cardinal Rivara said, “Oswaldo clearly had a vocation to politics, and as a good Christian, this did not take him away from his faith or his religious practice.

On the contrary, he always sought inspiration in his Christian faith for his political activities,” the cardinal said.

“Oswaldo lived the piercing role of being a lay Christian with a political philosophy in complete fidelity to his ideas, without as a consequence ceasing to be faithful to the Church until the end of his days.”

The cardinal also recalled the words Pope Benedict XVI spoke during his departure address in Havana, in which he said that in Cuba, “Nobody should be kept from joining in this passionate task through the restricting of their fundamental rights and from obtaining the necessary strength to build a society in solidarity in which nobody feels excluded.”

Participation in the public life of the country is a duty of the laity and not the Church hierarchy, he stressed.

During the Mass attended by hundreds of Cubans, Cardinal Rivera also read a message of condolence from Pope Benedict XVI, who expressed his “spiritual closeness” to Paya’s family and his desire for the “full recovery” of those wounded in the accident, which also took the life of dissident Harold Cepero.

“Benedict XVI asks that his deepest condolences and spiritual closeness by expressed to the families of the deceased, and he implores the Almighty for the complete recovery of those who were injured,” the message said.

After the Mass, family members and friends attended the burial at the Colon Cemetery in Havana.

Dissidents and members of the opposition in Cuba posted messages on Twitter denouncing the government for dispatching agents around the church during the funeral Mass. Local officials have also come under fire over suspicions that Paya's death was carried out by the government.

Americas

Previous Post

July 25, 2012

Archbishop Aquila praises heroic actions during theater shooting

Next Post

July 26, 2012 SSPX set three conditions for reunification with Rome

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to 1 Peter, what covers over a multitude of sins?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Love Prayer Faith Repentance