Thirteen mainly Baptist congregations in the United States have issued a “Plea for Peace with Cuba” that describes a “moment of exceptional urgency” in the Caribbean nation.
“We sound this call as those who have walked with and seen the suffering of our Cuban brothers and sisters,” the letter begins. “Since the 1990s, each of our churches has partnered with Cuban congregations, worshiping together, sharing faith together and being in each other’s homes. We are not enemies. We are family. It breaks our hearts to see those dear to us, children, women and men, needlessly suffering from U.S. policies.”
Currently Cuba is experiencing its most severe economic crisis in 67 years, characterized by a near-total collapse of the electrical grid, widespread and long-lasting blackouts, and acute shortages of food, fuel and medicine, according to Human Rights Watch. This crisis has been exacerbated by tightened U.S. oil sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump.
“It breaks our hearts to see those dear to us, children, women and men, needlessly suffering from U.S. policies.”
The latest statement echoes words of a February declaration from the Alliance of Baptists, “A Call to Stand with the People of Cuba: Faithful Solidarity in a Time of Crisis.”
That statement says: “As communities of faith, we write out of deep concern for the people of Cuba and out of a shared commitment to peace, compassion and the protection of human life. We are alarmed by the growing risk of escalation and by clear signals that regime change is being pursued as a goal of U.S. policy toward Cuba. In this moment, we reject any approach that seeks to impose political outcomes through coercion or treats human suffering as leverage.”
The letter from 13 congregations explains: “For 66 years, the U.S. economic embargo — not to mention the news blackout — has isolated Cuba from the world community and devastated the Cuban economy. Now, the recent U.S. blockage of Cuba’s oil purchases from Venezuela and Mexico is creating a situation of catastrophic proportion. Because Cuba relies heavily on oil to produce electricity, the resulting lack of power generation affects every aspect of the Cuban people’s lives.
The Alliance statement earlier said: “Across Cuba, many people are struggling to meet basic needs, including reliable access to food, clean water, electricity, transportation and safe housing. Reduced fuel supplies have immediate consequences, contributing to blackouts, limited water access, reduced mobility and disruptions to essential services.”
The letter from the 13 congregations concludes: “Cuba is experiencing an intensifying humanitarian crisis caused by an embargo that is a breach of widely accepted international law. We can change it.”
The letter urges all concerned Americans to contact congressional representatives and urge an end to U.S. embargoes.
U.S. and Cuba relations have been a matter of intense debate for decades with little success of change. According to the Alliance statement, that’s because the wrong techniques have been used.
“For too many years, U.S. policy toward Cuba has relied on pressure and isolation, harming communities while failing to achieve its stated political goals,” the statement says. “This approach has exacted a heavy human toll and has not produced meaningful or lasting change. The true measure of any policy should be whether it reduces human suffering and allows people to live with dignity in their own communities.
“We oppose threats of intervention, destabilization or any effort to force political change through coercion. We call instead for diplomacy, sustained engagement and people-to-people connection that reduce suffering and help build the foundations for peace. We also affirm the importance of allowing people in Cuba to express their concerns and longings in peaceful ways. The ability to gather, to speak and to be heard is part of the God-given dignity that belongs to every person, and we pray that such moments be met with understanding and restraint.”
The Alliance of Baptists statement was joined by American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Friends Service Committee, Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, Church of the Brethren, Church World Service, Cuba Partners Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Florida Council of Churches, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Latin America Working Group, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, Pax Christi USA, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ and The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society.
The 13 congregations signing the latest statement are Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham, Ala.; Circle of Mercy Congregation, Asheville, N.C.; Ecclesia Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C.; First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C.; First Baptist Church, Jamaica Plains, Mass.; First Baptist Church, Sylva, N.C.; First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.; Glendale Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn.; Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Northminster Baptist Church, Monroe, La.; Oakhurst Baptist Church; Decatur, Ga.; Park Road Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C.; Williamsburg Baptist Church, Williamsburg, Va.