U.S. CHURCHES URGE CONGRESS TO END CUBA TRAVEL BAN

March 24, 2009

Dear Representative:

We write as Christian communions, their agencies, and ecumenical organizations in the United States to urge you to co-sponsor legislation that would end the ban on travel to Cuba (H.R. 874).

For decades the U.S. policy toward Cuba has had adverse consequences for the Cuban people and violated important freedoms of U.S. citizens. It has failed in its stated objective to bring about change in the Cuban political system. The hostility between the two governments has harmed relationships between our two peoples, including among people of faith. This has impoverished our knowledge of each other as people, denied the mutual benefits that full and free travel and exchange can bring, and disrupted the close historical bonds between our churches.

As churches and religious institutions with a long history of missionary and humanitarian activity in the nation of Cuba, we have keenly experienced the impact of the travel ban. U.S. churches, mission agencies and ecumenical organizations at the national and regional levels have suffered from the restrictions, which have reduced their ability to send religious delegations to Cuba and limited opportunities to accompany and support Cuban church partners.

Cuban churches are growing rapidly, presenting new opportunities for U.S. churches and ecumenical institutions to relate to and support their Cuban brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a critical time to open wide the doors to allow greater people-to-people engagement of all kinds and at all levels between the two countries. We must not miss this opportunity.

We believe that now is the time to reform U.S. policy toward Cuba in ways that benefit all the people of Cuba and the United States. We urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 874 to end the travel ban, a vital step in achieving a sounder policy toward Cuba.

Yours sincerely,

African Methodist Episcopal Church
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Churches of the U.S.A.
American Baptist Churches International Ministries
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, Office of the General Minister and President
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Church World Service
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office
Progressive National Baptist Convention
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society