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Pastor Rodriguez and family
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Three members of the Rodriguez family now under attack
CSW is increasingly concerned about the Rodriguez family in Cuba, as three members of the same family are now facing prosecution.
Gilianys Meneses de los Rios was already concerned about her husband and father-in-law, both pastors, who had been charged with “offensive behaviour”. Walking along the street with her young daughter one day last October, she was attacked by a neighbour. Gilianys subsequently suffered a miscarriage at eight weeks. She was arrested and convicted of “disturbing the public order” during this attack. The court has handed down a fine which the family, already in financial difficulties, is little able to afford.
The attack was the latest in a campaign of harassment against the Rodriguez family, carried out with the tacit support of the authorities. The neighbours first contaminated the families’ drinking water well, broke the water pipes, and septic tank before accusing Gilianys’ husband of aggressive behaviour. The entire family has been forced to move away from their home in Placetas due to concerns for their safety.
Pastor Rodriguez presented himself at court on 19 March after receiving a court summons for the third time in three months, only to learn that the trial had been suspended once again He received a fourth summons in July but was too ill to attend.
Attacks on the family
At the end of February, Reverend Rodriguez was hospitalised for stomach problems and was diagnosed with pan-gastritis. He continues to be under medical supervision and doctors confirm that the stress of the situation with the authorities has aggravated his illness.
Gilianys’ husband, Eric Gabriel Rodriguez, was convicted in December on the same charges against his father, “offensive behaviour” and was sentenced to three months to one year of house arrest with the possibility of imprisonment if he “re-offends”. According to the family, local authorities have admitted that the charges against him are false but have yet to take action to overturn his conviction.
Background
In December 2008, Reverend Rodriguez was accused of “offensive behaviour”. Thankfully, the trial was suspended, possibly due to the amount of international attention his case received outside of Cuba with the help of your prayers and intercession.
Reverend Roberto Rodriguez, pastor of the Los Pinos Nuevos de Sagua la Grande Church and the National President of the Interdenominational Fellowship of Evangelical Pastors and Ministers in Cuba (the Spanish acronym is CIMPEC) and his son, Eric Gabriel Rodriguez del Toro, who is also a pastor, have been the target of harassment, with the apparent support of local government officials, for a number of years.
As in similar cases in Cuba, however, our contacts tell us that the authorities are using the charges in this case as a pretext for pressuring and possibly imprisoning the two pastors. Our sources tell us that the real reason behind this trial lies in the withdrawal of CIMPEC from the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC), in September of this year, under the leadership of Reverend Rodriguez. At the time, CIMPEC published a letter outlining their reasons for withdrawing from the CCC in which they cited consistent and illegal interference in internal CIMPEC affairs by the CCC leadership over the past year.
In October, government authorities stripped Reverend Rodriguez of his position as President of CIMPEC in the government Registry of Associations, a move which was condemned as unconstitutional by the members of CIMPEC as it was done without their involvement or approval. | |
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- That God would meet the Rodriguez family at their deepest point of need.
- That God would provide for Gilianys and her family, enabling them to pay the fine and the other costs associated with the trial.
- That all the charges against Reverend Rodriguez, Pastor Eric Gabriel Rodriguez would be dropped.
- For the family of Reverend Rodriguez as this situation continues, that they would be strengthened and protected from further harm.
- For those harassing this family, that they would stop their campaign, drop all charges and that God’s justice would prevail.
Why not add a prayer to our Prayer Wall to show your solidarity with Christians in Cuba?
>>> Visit the prayer wall |
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Please consider using our sample letter to write to the Cuban ambassador in London to express your concern for the Rodriguez family.
Letters can be addressed to:
H.E. Mr: René Juan Mujica Cantelar
167 High Holborn.
London WC1V 6PA
or email your letter to embacuba@cubaldn.com (UK) or
cubaseccion@igc.apc.org (USA) |
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The family has been incredibly strengthened by the cards and letters of encouragement they have received from Europe, particularly from England. You can write to them at the following address:
Rvdo. Roberto Rodríguez Rodriguez and/or Eric G. Rodriguez and/or Gilianys Meneses
Princesa No. 52 e/ Laborde y Gene
Cárdenas
42110
Matanzas
Cuba |
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