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The Alliance Of Baptists Silence on Cuban Persecution

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Kiffin, Jul 30, 2003.

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  1. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    The Alliance Of Baptists website states regarding Cuba

    One of the disturbing things about the Alliance Of Baptists is their condemning the USA but not Castro. The Alliance Of Baptists seems to have a close relationship with many Baptist Churches in Cuba (And I am not condemning these churches in that I am sure they endure hardships) but seems silent on the persecution of Non government endorsed house churches. There are some valid reasons to ease or end the embargo but the Alliance Baptist despite their close relationship with Cuban Christians seem silent on Cuban atrocities against Christians and that is very troubling.

    Their statement on Cuba at makes no call on Cuba to ease up on Christian groups and respect human rights.

    More from the Alliance of Baptists website


    Does the Alliance have no problem with Castro's murder of those who speak against him? Cuba is a police state! The Alliance of Baptists complaints from their website are all about how bad the US has been to Cuba but they are silent regarding Castro's persecution of believers and other political prisoners. The main cause of hardship in Cuba is Castro not the USA. If the Southern Baptist Convention had made similar statements about South Africa during it's years of Apartheid they would have been grilled as racists. I wrote Stan Hastey the executive director of the Alliance but got no response on why they are soft on Cuba.

    Why is the Alliance is mute on Christian persecution in Cuba? :(
     
    #1 Kiffin, Jul 30, 2003
  2. Mark Osgatharp

    Mark Osgatharp New Member

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    Kiffin,

    The Alliance of Baptists is on record in support of same gender sexual relationships. They have ZERO credibility.

    Mark Osgatharp
     
    #2 Mark Osgatharp, Jul 30, 2003
  3. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    I agree Mark. Liberal denominations have a history of espousing compassion but contradicting themselves when it comes to Communist regimes such as Cuba. During the Cold War, such groups as the World Council of Churches were often silent on persecution in the Soviet Union but condemned Reagan as a War monger and the Alliance of Baptists seem to continue this sordid tradition with Cuba. :( It is hypocrisy.
     
    #3 Kiffin, Jul 30, 2003
  4. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    The Alliance is doing a lot of good in Cuba. We're not just "espousing" compassion, we're putting our money/time/energy where our mouths are.

    The U.S. has willingly overlooked all sorts of atrocities in nations where it felt it had an economic interest (our periodic friendships with countries like Iraq come to mind). Somehow, though, a different standard applies to Cuba (perhaps because they have nothing economically or politically that we want). Consequently, the Cuban people suffer.

    The hypocricy is on the part of our government (both parties, sadly), which only takes the moral highground with another nation when there's some sort of material gain to be had; and which overlooks oppression and brutality when the oppressor has something to offer us.

    If free trade is an affirmation of a country's human rights policies, then we need to immediately terminate our all business ties to China.

    Joshua
     
    #4 Rev. Joshua, Jul 30, 2003
  5. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    Hi Joshua,

    I am not in disagreement with you on the trade issue. Free trade is good and embargos have had little effect on terror regimes. That is not a point of disagreement. Cuba's problems were created by Castro, not the USA. Put blame where blame is due.

    You and the Alliance of Baptists would probably be first in line to condemn the Southern Baptist Convention if it had made similar remarks regarding South Africa during Apartheid.


    The question at hand is why does the Alliance of Baptists not speak out against Cuba's repression of Christians? Conservative evangelical denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and groups such as Voice of the Martyrs have spoke out against China's persecution and also do work there. The Alliance of Baptists however do work in Cuba yet are silent on the persecution of Christians and seem to find Castro more favorable than the US government.

    The Voice of the Martyrs, reports increasing persecution in Cuba but the Alliance of Baptists has remained silent. The Alliance of Baptists should use their clout to protest this. If the Alliance would not only protest US trade embragos as well as protest against Cuba's repression of believers it would be a great step to fairness. In it's current position, it remains silent on Cuba's human rights violations. That is shameful.
     
    #5 Kiffin, Jul 30, 2003
  6. fromtheright

    fromtheright <img src =/2844.JPG>

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    Cuba is a police state which jails dissidents. A recent round-up of dissidents shows that Communist tyranny is alive and well and in this hemisphere. Rev. Joshua's apologia for Castro's despotism is to be expected from the Left. They turn their heads from the tortured prisoners on the Isle of Pines in Cuba while they gush over Castro. Though I despise his "blame America" attitude over the plight of Cubans I must agree with his assessment of American hypocrisy in the case of China. The outrage over Tiananmen (sp?) Square was a burp over American business's push to expand American relations. This relationship was seriously boosted by Bill Clinton, but Republicans have plenty of blame also.
     
    #6 fromtheright, Jul 31, 2003
  7. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    One of the disturbing things about the Alliance Of Baptists is their condemning the USA but not Castro.
    </font>[/QUOTE]Condemning the US's embargo is not the same thing at all as condemning the USA.

    As for the Alliance's position in all this, I don't know enough to comment.

    Haruo
     
    #7 Haruo, Jul 31, 2003
  8. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    That is splitting hairs though I meant the embargo. As I said, I wrote the executive director of the Alliance and received no reponse. The position of the Alliance of Baptists makes them appear as apologists for Castro. They are not fair or balanced in their position and the Alliance apparently is willing to overlook human rights violations in Cuba.
     
    #8 Kiffin, Jul 31, 2003
  9. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

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    According to the philosophy of some here, we should put Cuba on our list of countries we intend to invade.
     
    #9 Terry_Herrington, Jul 31, 2003
  10. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    fromtheright,

    Where did you read an apologia for Castro's despotism? I oppose despotism in all forms. After six years in Army intelligence covering Latin America and Easter Europe; I'd bet I know a lot more about just how bad things are in Cuba than you do.

    The problem is that economic embargos: rarely change foreign policy; hurt the general population far more than the despots; and hurt public opinion towards the U.S. in the target countries. In addition, as I've stated, we have a terrible history of inconsistency in our relationships with despotic governments (sometimes even training their military leaders here in the U.S.). The Alliance's position addresses this issue.

    As for addressing the issue of Castro's brutal policies, I do not know why the Alliance hasn't addressed them. Stan would be the person to ask, and if he hasn't written you back - he will. He's enormously busy and travels a lot.

    Joshua
     
    #10 Rev. Joshua, Jul 31, 2003
  11. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    Been there, done that. Cuba's been on our list of countries "we" (not "me"!) intend to invade since I was a little kid singing
    at Baptist summer camp. That was the era of the Bay of Pigs item.

    Haruo
     
    #11 Haruo, Jul 31, 2003
  12. fromtheright

    fromtheright <img src =/2844.JPG>

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    Rev. Joshua,

    The focus of my attention was your statement that

    The hypocricy is on the part of our government


    I must admit that I did not see as closely your comment about oppression and brutality. I missed it and I do sincerely apologize for that.

    Nevertheless, it did seem to me that your point was to blame the U.S. for the perpetuation of that suffering ("Consequently, the Cuban people suffer.") Tyranny persists because tyrants live.

    I also disagree with you about economic embargoes. Cuban emigres here are strong supporters of the embargo in the view that loosening it gives economic strength to the Castro regime and provides no pressure to relax political repression.


    I am curious if you agree with any of the following statements:

    ---Cuba's government is a tyranny.

    ---Christians are persecuted in Cuba.

    ---Political dissent is persecuted in Cuba.

    If you do, again, I was wrong and apologize.

    FTR
     
    #12 fromtheright, Aug 1, 2003
  13. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    ---Cuba's government is a tyranny.

    Yes

    ---Christians are persecuted in Cuba.

    Yes, although from what I've read this situation is improving.

    ---Political dissent is persecuted in Cuba.

    Yes

    Joshua
     
    #13 Rev. Joshua, Aug 1, 2003
  14. Jameslef

    Jameslef New Member

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    The evils of tyrany should be exposed and those of the United States should not be an exception.
     
    #14 Jameslef, Aug 6, 2003
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