The Alliance of Christians in Cuba (ACC) met recently in the Cuban city of Camagüey and issued a statement denouncing the “deep political, economic, social and spiritual crisis” in the country.

The statement, signed by 63 members of the ACC and endorsed by pastors of local churches, quotes data from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, which states that 89% of families in the country live in extreme poverty.

The ACC stresses that “this situation affects and burdens millions of people” and that there is also “an increase in crime, prostitution, drugs and corruption”.

“What is regrettable is that there is no government plan to improve the quality of life of our people. They seem condemned to resist”. they add.

Repression and violence

According to Cuban Christians, “the crisis is not only economic, we also observe a growing increase in repression”, with 762 political and conscience prisoners, “the most painful example, although not the only one, of so much injustice”.

They are also “especially concerned about the growing violence in our neighbourhoods, the robberies, the homicides, the murders of women, the prostitution, the drugs and the corruption”.

No religious freedom

“In this context, the people need their churches and pastors more than ever, but religious freedom continues to be seriously affected, in contradiction with the proclaimed secular character of the Cuban state”, stresses the ACC.

The statement explains that “only those religious associations that existed before 1962 are legally registered”, so that over 80% of the local churches, denominations and ministries to which they belong “do not have the right to legal status”.

Furthermore, it denounces “confiscation of property, demolition of places of worship and threats”, as well as “prohibitions or obstacles for pastors to accompany and comfort people in hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, prisons, schools, universities, sports teams, the army”.

According to the ACC, 996 repressive acts against religious leaders were recorded in 2024, “with no change in the monthly percentage so far in 2025”.

International appeal

Cuban Christians call on “international institutions and democratic governments to urge the Cuban authorities to put an end to the harassment and restrictions on religious freedom in the country”.

“We ask this not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the Cuban people, who need the pastoral, prophetic and social work of our churches”, they conclude.