As Castro Resigns, His Relationship With Catholic Church Is Profiled

As Cuban leader Fidel Castro last night announced that he is retiring, Catholic News Service reviews his "often stormy relationship" with Cuba's Catholic Church. Catholics initially supported the Jesuit-educated Castro's revolution. However in the 1960's, Castro nationalized 350 Catholic schools and expelled 136 priests. Churches were limited to holding religious services on church property and social action projects were banned. Cubans were discouraged from attending church and those who did were discriminated against in state and university employment. In the 1970's, though, Castro cultivated relationships with non-Cuban Marxist Catholic intellectuals. In the late 1990's Castro's relations with the Church improved as Castro met with Pope John Paul in the Vatican and the Pope visited Cuba.