A IGREJA CATÓLICA EM CUBA: NOVOS TEMPOS, NOVAS RELAÇÕES

Abstract

This paper aims at discussing the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Cuban Revolution, the conflicts and the approximations that emerged from that uprising, which took place from July 26, 1953 to January 1, 1959 and was part of a process that began decades earlier, rooted in factors dating back to the late 19th century. The analysis emphasized the period from 1959 to 1962 and due to the peculiarity and the contemporary revolution with its socialist ideals, the analysis was extended to 2015. The research shows how the pre-Revolution scenario in Cuba generated the conviction of making the Revolution and sought to answer to what extent the Catholic Church facilitated the implantation and maintenance of the socialist system in Cuba, and to what extent it became a voice of hope for the Cuban people in facing the challenges that arose with the socialist uprising. Thus the attempt to obtain answers made it necessary also to present an overview of the pre-revolutionary scenario, the position of the Catholic Church before the results of the Revolution, the tensions and the possible approximations between so different thoughts, having its apex in the present decade, with the visit of Popes to Cuba. Thus, the research is justified by the wealth of historical events that involved the Island before and after the Cuban Revolution, not only for its political, economic and social aspects, but also for the position of the Catholic Church in that process, since it was the most influential religion at the time, although there were other religious manifestations, such as those of African origin and protestants. The research was exploratory, bibliographic and documentary, using books, documents and online materials that made it possible to analyze the pre-Revolution scenario, the period in which the Cuban Revolution occurred, the characters that were most prominent and how the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Cuban State is nowadays. It had a qualitative approach, which allowed to analyze reasons, beliefs, values that permeated the uprising and the behaviors of the Catholic Church stemming from the proclaimed socialism. It is understood that such a movement could not be overlooked, especially by religious scholars, because it is important to understand political and social processes with thoughts antagonistic to religion, such as the Revolution in Cuba.