Assemblies of God in Cuba Affirms Members' Right to Criticize Government and Report Injustices

The General Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God in Cuba released a set of "Pastoral Guidelines on Member Covenant and Political Expression" this Tuesday. These guidelines clearly delineate between the church's institutional political neutrality and the individual right of its members to voice political opinions, criticize public policies and leaders, and speak out against injustices.

Attributed to the highest executive body of this evangelical denomination on the island, the document was fully reproduced by Cuban religious channels. It explicitly states its intent to "not silence the voices of those who rise against injustice."

The guidelines are based on the so-called "Member Covenant," which dictates that believers should fulfill their civic duties without "getting involved in political factions." The new orientation does not alter this rule but rather clarifies its practical application.

According to the document, "getting involved in political factions" means that the church, through its pulpits, services, cells, official networks, or institutional structures, should not take sides with or against any political party, movement, candidate, or specific government system; use its resources to promote a partisan agenda; or require its members to adopt a uniform political stance.

The directives clarify, however, that this prohibition does not prevent a Christian, as a citizen, from having personal political convictions and expressing them at home, in personal conversations, or on social media, provided they do so individually, without using the church's name, and without inciting hatred or violence.

The document goes further, asserting that a believer may criticize or support public policies or leaders based on biblical principles such as justice, truth, and the protection of the innocent, and may denounce from the pulpit "social sin, corruption, and lies," as long as the church is not turned into a partisan platform.

Religious Expression and Political Neutrality

In one of its central passages, the guidelines summarize that the covenant "does not forbid Christians from individually having and expressing political opinions," as long as they do so outside of their ecclesiastical roles and in accordance with the law and their Christian conscience.

It also states that having differing opinions on governmental management, criticizing a law or policy deemed unjust, or supporting or opposing a specific economic or social measure is not a cause for division within the church.

Conversely, behaviors such as inciting physical violence, racial or class hatred, promoting armed insurrection, using the pulpit to support or attack political parties, or creating political factions within the congregation are deemed incompatible with ecclesial communion.

Social Media Guidance and Pastoral Responsibility

In the section dedicated to social media, the Assemblies of God acknowledge these platforms as valid spaces for expression. However, they urge their members to avoid insults, misinformation, and hatred, both against leaders and citizens, and to substantiate their posts before sharing them.

The final exhortation to pastors is particularly direct: "We are not called to turn the church into a political party, nor to cowardly remain silent in the face of injustice."

The text calls on them to defend the believers' freedom of conscience while also preserving the unity of the religious community.

This clarification comes amid intense debate over the role of Christian churches in the face of Cuba's political reality. Recently, various religious figures and denominations have questioned the repression against those who publicly express dissent.

One of the recent cases is that of Ariel Limias Leyva, a former pastor of the Assemblies of God, who remains detained in Villa Marista facing charges of "enemy propaganda against the constitutional order" after a solo protest in front of Havana's Capitol with an anti-government sign.

Limias was previously identified as a former member of the pastorate of this denomination, and according to his family, he was not part of opposition organizations.

The religious debate broadened with a letter from the bishop and 21 clergy members of the Episcopal Church in Cuba, expressing solidarity with Anna Bensi and her mother, denouncing the country's social crisis, and challenging the use of violence, intimidation, and police harassment against those who raise their voices for rights.

The new guidelines from the Assemblies of God have elicited numerous reactions from believers. Most comments gathered celebrate the church's distinction between institutional partisanship and individual freedom of conscience, with several faithful interpreting the text as a confirmation that denouncing injustice does not necessarily contradict Christian faith.

However, other comments indicate that the topic continues to divide religious sectors. Some believe that Christians should limit their public actions to prayer and obedience to authorities, while others argue that remaining silent in the face of abuse or unjust laws is incompatible with their interpretation of Scripture.

The discussion highlights a tension that the guidelines themselves attempt to resolve: keeping the church out of political partisanship without turning that institutional neutrality into a prohibition for its members to speak, disagree, or denounce injustices as citizens.