US reverend opposes inclusion of Cuba on Special Watch List

HAVANA, Cuba, July 30 (ACN) Reverend Jim Winkler, president and general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States, has expressed his opposition to the fact that Cuba has been and continues to be included on the "Special Watch List" of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

This was stated by Winkler in a letter addressed to speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to express concern that Cuba is on that list, according to the island's foreign ministry website.
In the text, the reverend explained the nature of the relationship between American and Cuban Christians and that, through several visits by high-level church delegations and other exchanges, they have witnessed first-hand the freedom by which Cubans can express their faith.
The action like listing of Cuba on the "Special Watch List" has set back positive trends in Cuba, mainly those related to rapprochement with the United States, he added.
"Including Cuba on the" Special Watch List "is an egregious lapse of judgment on the part of the United States Government. Therefore, I would request that the country be removed from this list," he concluded.
The National Council of Churches represents 40 million Christians in the United States, with 38 member churches. The institution has a close relationship with the Cuban Council of Churches.