Ever since Cuban Catholic Priest Rolando Montes de Oca publicly criticized the communist Castro dictatorship, he has been a victim of harassment and violent aggression by Cuban State Security.
Via Martí Noticias (my translation):
Camagüey priest denounces new attacks against his home
“More eggs thrown at my parish home in Vertientes, once again while I was out. This time there were many more than before [he calculates around 10] although this time they didn’t leave a note calling me a ‘Disgusting Worm’ like they did previously,” wrote Catholic priest Rolando Montes de Oca on social media this past Saturday.
In January of 2021, the cleric was one of the Cuban priests who wrote an open letter titled “I have seen the affliction of my people.” The missive criticized the corruption and the prevailing inequality in Cuba and called for political change. Since then, he has been harassed and threatened several times for his stance.
“I have to say it again: it neither terrorizes me nor fills me with hate, and neither does it discourage me. I don’t know who did it and I don’t care. I don’t know if it was the same people who have been denigrating me these past few months, making up lies about me in my town or pressuring my friends and partners to abandon me. I don’t know if its the ones who are claiming — because that’s what they want — that sooner rather than later I will escape Cuba. I don’t know if it’s them or others, I don’t care. Whoever is throwing the eggs, telling the lies, or doing anything else will always be welcomed in the church, which is the home for ALL, especially sinners. By my part, I have much to offer that comes from God,” he wrote on social media after the latest attack.
The priest made clear in his text that “it’s not hate, or lies, or violence that Cuba needs.”
Continue reading (in Spanish) HERE.