Religious `freedom' another tool to empower Castro

Has there been a change in the tacit prohibition, in effect since 1960, of building new churches? Have the churches been allowed repairs without red tape, particularly in the countryside, where many churches are crumbling?

Due to the shortage of churches, Catholics, as well as evangelicals, have resorted to worship in private homes. Has government harassment of these churches stopped?

Has Castro done anything since the Pope's visit to return to the Catholic or evangelical churches the schools and seminaries that were confiscated in 1961?

Has discrimination against the faithful stopped? Has the government eliminated from its cumulative academic and labor records all questions regarding religious affiliation? Having a religious record has meant discrimination, preventing people from studying for socially relevant careers and from holding managerial positions.

Are priests or pastors now allowed free entry into the country? Since 1961 and the expulsion of 131 Catholic clerics, the government has kept the number of priests on the island at approximately the same level even though Cuba's population has doubled.

Are churches allowed to purchase freely (or to import) worship materials or other resources such as vehicles for transportation and copy machines?

Do churches have the ability to maintain their own means of communication at the national level? Do they have access to mass media (newspapers, radio, and television) all under government control?

Even more basic than that, can they hold processions in public streets?

If these questions can be answered affirmatively, then we may be seeing Castro turn into a Paul; Castro, the repressor of Christians, would be promoting freedom of religion. But let's not be deceived.

Cardinal Law stated that there have been substantial changes in Cuba. However, Castro and other high officials repeatedly have stated that there will not be an iota of political change.

Castro opened only a little to Catholicism, pressured mostly by the economic crisis, the Vatican, and a wish to portray the Pope's visit as an international forum against the embargo. What of this opening will endure, remains to be seen. Castro is an expert at blackmail, and we fear that the church may fall in a trap and lash out against the economic embargo without reciprocity.

Castro continues to jail and repress political dissidents and people at large. He mocks the Pope by freeing some prisoners, as gifts from a generous lord, but forces them to leave the country.

There can be no real freedom of religion under a totalitarian system where human rights are routinely violated -- either brutally or indirectly and quietly, but effectively nevertheless, and not easily visible to foreigners. The internal dissident movement seeks moral and material support from the church in its struggle for the most basic civil rights. Will the Cuban Catholic Church be able to provide it as was done in Poland?

Unfortunately for the Cuban people, religious repression continues. It remains ``a steel fist in velvet gloves,'' as a Cuban religious authority told me. The recent disguised expulsion of the Rev. Patrick Sullivan corroborates this. It must be remembered that following church teachings, hundreds have been jailed and continue to be jailed today or have been forced into exile.

Finally, the cardinal must not forget that there have been many who, inspired by the same principles, died as Cuban martyrs. They faced the firing squad proclaiming ``Long live Christ the King!'' Let's not dishonor their sacrifice by implicitly aiding and abetting the executioner.