Bárbaro Abel Marrero, a prominent Cuban pastor, addressed accusations on Thursday that were disseminated by the profile El Necio, which alleged that the Western Baptist Convention of Cuba was a major hub for the CIA to recruit individuals on the island.
Marrero, who holds the positions of President of the Western Baptist Convention of Cuba and Rector of the Baptist Theological Seminary in Havana, firmly rejected these claims in a Facebook post.
"El Necio now asserts, as supposedly verified, that the Western Baptist Convention is the primary Cuban evangelical church where the CIA recruits individuals as agents," Marrero wrote.
The pastor's response followed El Necio's statements on social media claiming that the CIA had intensified its activities in Cuba during 2026, primarily targeting evangelical churches.
El Necio specifically mentioned the Western Baptist Convention, alleging, without evidence, that individuals were being recruited to "surrender the word of God to the interests of Trump and Marco Rubio."
Marrero described the accusation as serious and likened it to historical persecution of Christians.
"This grave accusation reminds us of the slander by Emperor Nero in the first century AD, when he claimed Christians had set fire to Rome, sparking brutal persecution against them," Marrero stated.
The pastor also recalled a 1965 incident in Cuba when several Baptist ministers were imprisoned under accusations that, he argued, were similarly unsubstantiated.
"For Western Cuban Baptists, in particular, this feels like déjà vu, as we cannot forget that in 1965 a group of our pastors were jailed, without evidence, under similar charges," he noted.
Marrero's response was also covered by Luzvisión Noticias, which described the accusations against the denomination as baseless and highlighted the evangelical community's concern that such claims might be used to discredit or pressure churches.
The report also recalled historical tensions between the Cuban state and various religious communities, including the imprisonment of Baptist pastors during the 1960s.
Marrero concluded his message with a biblical reference from Matthew 5:11: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."
The pastor currently holds one of the leading roles within Cuba's Western Baptist denomination. Besides presiding over the Convention, he directs the Baptist Theological Seminary in Havana, where he also serves as a professor.
The accusation against the Western Baptist Convention comes at a time of heightened tension between several evangelical churches and Cuban authorities.
In March, the organization led by Marrero advised its congregations not to use places of worship as platforms for political activism, while also publicly acknowledging the severity of the Cuban crisis, the injustices, the social decay, and the believers' right to individually participate in public life.
Subsequently, Mike Hammer met with the Alliance of Evangelical Churches of Cuba, which includes, among others, the Western and Eastern Baptist Conventions, the Methodist Church, and the Assemblies of God.
The Western Baptist Convention made headlines again at the end of September when it expressed support for Anna Bensi and her mother, Caridad Silvente, ahead of their trial.
The organization called for respect for due process, freedom of expression, and religious freedom, affirming: "We cannot, do not want to, and will not leave them alone."
Understanding the Accusations Against Cuban Baptists
What are the allegations made by El Necio against the Western Baptist Convention of Cuba?
El Necio accused the Western Baptist Convention of Cuba of being a primary location where the CIA recruits agents, suggesting that evangelical churches are being used for espionage activities.
How did Pastor Bárbaro Abel Marrero respond to these claims?
Pastor Marrero vehemently denied the accusations, comparing them to historical persecutions and emphasizing their baseless nature. He highlighted the lack of evidence supporting such claims.
What historical context did Marrero provide in his response?
Marrero referenced the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero in ancient Rome and recalled the imprisonment of Baptist ministers in Cuba during the 1960s as comparable instances of baseless accusations.