Christ Castro Karen

I think we need to evaluate the impact this sort of thing is having on the
African roots culture. The christian churches have long been the
handmaiden of colonialism and have enforced a eurodomination of other
cultures, leading to their destruction. In fact, in Africa, this process is most
active at the present time, with more conversions than ever before. In
Nigeria the evangelicals are holding huge meetings in amphitheatres and
burning statues of the orishas.

I quite understand that this has to be balanced against the help that the
WCC can bring to bear in defeating the embargo, it's just that we have to
appreciate the cost and figure out how to mitigate that.

For example, in Cuba, 70% of the Catholic priests are of foreign birth, mostly
of Spanish heritage. I know of courses being given to them in Cuba on
Cuban popular culture (santeria, etc) so as to help them understand the
devils they are dealing with so as better to eliminate them and penetrate the
masses.

I think a number of US protestant/religious right groups have targeted Cuba
and send people down to basically buy the adherence of Cubans.

We have to remember the role of the religious right in this country, which
included being the main motor behind McCarthyism (along with J. Edgar, of
course).

The Catholic Church is a profoundly conservative institution which worked
hand in glove with the Nazis in WWII as has recently been well documented
in the October issue of Vanity Fair (soon to be out in a book).

The WCC has a veneer of liberalism, but we have to remember that the
monotheists are at bottom just that, monotheists!

And most afrocubans to date have not been interested in Christianity.
Santeria, contrary to what some say, is not Christianity, it is Yoruba culture
pure and simple. They have borrowed some iconography, but no theology or
liturgy. And of course AfroCubans stayed away in droves from the papal visit.

I would hate to see a repeat of some situations in Central America, such as
Guatemala.