U.S., Cuban church leaders seek normalized relations

Church leaders from ecumenical councils in the U.S. and Cuba wrapped
up a five-day meeting in Havana on December 2 with a call for
"normalized relations" between the two countries. A joint statement said
that the long U.S. embargo against Cuba and "a half century of
animosity between our countries" must end.

The 16-member National
Council of Churches delegation and leaders of the Council of Churches of
Cuba noted that their meeting grew out of strengthened ties formed when
Cuban church representatives took part in the NCC's 2010 General
Assembly.

The church leaders thanked the Obama administration for
lifting some restrictions on travel to Cuba last January but called for
the "speedy and complete fulfillment" of the president's public
intention "to review and revise long-standing U.S. policy toward Cuba."