The Office of Public Witness of the Presbyterian Church
(USA) rejoices in the news of the release of US citizen Alan Gross from prison
in Cuba, along with the release of Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, and
Ramón Labañino, three Cubans being held in prison in the United States. The release of these prisoners has opened
the way for historic changes in US policy towards Cuba.
“The release of Alan Gross and the three Cuban prisoners is
an example of how nations can find common ground. When there is a will to live as true
neighbors as Jesus Christ has taught us, we find a way towards justice and reconciliation,”
Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Director of the Office of Public Witness stated.
The announcement by President Obama of momentous changes in
US policy towards Cuba is welcome news to all who have been working towards the
normalization of relations with Cuba.
The Presbyterian Church USA has been advocating for changes in policy
towards Cuba for over 50 years. Most
recently the Office of Public Witness has organized religious delegations from
Cuba, led a coalition of denominations and faith based organizations calling
for a change in policy towards Cuba, and organized meetings with members of
congress and the administration urging an opening of relations between the two
countries.
In 2011, the Obama administration credited a delegation of
religious leaders from Cuba and the United states, organized by the Office of
Public Witness, with influencing an ease of restrictions on travel and
remittances to Cuba. Presbyterian
pastors who were once part of the PCUSA before the revolution were unable to
collect their pensions due to the policies of the economic embargo. After meeting with the delegation, the
administration allowed the pastors, many of whom were elderly and alone, to
collect their much needed pensions.
“The record will show that our work on building better
relations between the United States and Cuba is faithful to the policies of the
Presbyterian Church (USA). Over the
years, we have consistently called on our nation’s leaders to end the embargo
and find common ground,” said Rev. Nelson.
“Our faith partners on the ground in Cuba have suffered significantly
due to the failed policies of the past.
The Obama administration has taken a major step to reunite families and
open doors to broader opportunities and a new way forward.”
The Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, Rev. Gradye Parsons, recently
participated in delegations to Cuba and Washington along with the Reverend John
L. McCullough, president and chief executive officer of Church World Service,
and Rabbi Elhanan “Sunny” Schnitzer, executive director of the Cuba-America
Jewish Mission, in order to urge officials to release Alan Gross and the three
Cubans. The Stated Clerk’s statement on
their release can be found at http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/12/17/pcusa-stated-clerk-lauds-historic-action-cuba/
