Laity Council Rejects Attacks in Havana Cardinal

HAVANA TIMES — The Council of the Laity of the Archdiocese of Havana met on June 9 to protest the “pejorative and continuous attacks in recent months that have turned personal” against the Archbishop of Havana.

In a statement released on Sunday, the group said they wanted “to acknowledge the pain that such attacks cause,” because of their “deep affection for Cardinal Ortega” and his “love for the Catholic Church, which is also a target of these offensive assaults.”

Opposition members have criticized Ortega for his relationship with the government while last week leading Cubans intellectuals on and off the island recognized the positive role of the religious leader in promoting change in Cuba.