Praying for the Kingdom: Cuba

COUNTRY	Cuba
DESCRIPTION	In 2008, Fidel Castro turned leadership over to his brother, General Raul Castro, and Cuba’s relationship with the United States appears to be improving. The Cuban government seeks to control most aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party, government bureaucracy and state security. The Ministry of Interior is the principal organ of state security and control. the country is now run by General Castro and a team of Communist Party loyalists. Raul is slowly implementing economic reforms, and Category: Restricted Nation Religion: Christian 56.5%, Non-Religious 25.0% Ideology: Communism Head of State: President General Raul Castro Ruz The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but religious groups experience interference, harassment and discrimination, and their leaders are sometimes imprisoned. Cuba considers church growth a threat to regime stability. The Religious Affairs Office, an arm of the Cuban Communist Party, actively tries to control churches through surveillance, infiltration and harassment of church leaders. Pastors understand that their congregations are infiltrated and monitored by government agents. Cuban law prohibits the unauthorized assembly of more than 12 people. Many Christians meet in unregistered house churches even though they have been strictly regulated since 2005. VOM is involved in repairing house churches and supporting evangelistic teams.
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