La Iglesia Católica cubana y el Estado en 1959 según la circular Vida Nueva

Resumen

The paper analyzes the relationship
between the Cuban government and the
Catholic Church after the victory of the Cuban
Revolution in 1959. The struggle of Fidel
Castro and his fellow rebels against the Batista
dictatorship was supported by a significant
number of priests and catholic faithfuls. Three
days after the victory of the Ejercito Rebelde, a
pastoral letter with the title of Vida Nueva
(New Life) was issued by Mons. Enrique Pérez
Serantes, the primate of Cuba. This letter is a
main source for the interpretation of the
Church and State relations at the beginning of
the political changes. The analysis of the letter
helps to understand the attitude of the Catholic
Church toward the new political system and it’s
leader, Fidel Castro. After the victory of the
revolution, despite the earlier promises, the new
Cuban State vigorously opposed the Catholic
Church. The new goverment began to weaken
its institutional system, and aspired to the
elimination of these institutions in some fields.