The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-06-26
SANTIAGO Cuba

A Cuban prelate has CIV
IN qualified support to
Cuba's controversial land
reform law. But he stress
ed that ii contains errors that
need correcting and shows ey-
tdence of Red influence.
In two statements Arch
bishop Enrique Perez Seran-
tes of Santiago declared that
he is baSically in favor of the
land reform law, whose Off
cial text has now been pub
lished.
Prior to its recent pUbIica-
hens the law was known only
through incomplete reports in
she daily press. The present
text is the work Of persons
vnder Msrxist influence, par
tieUlarly Maj. Ernesto (Che)
GueVara, a principal leade. Of
Fhs revolutionary movement
Of Premier Fidel Castro.
The Archbishop said he re-
GREETED that some of the laws
language shows that its aut-
fhors were influenced by com
s1unism rather than the Cos
pels. But he advocated press.
ing ahead with the land re-
form and added that he is
sure that Premier Castro will
remain aloof from this Red
influence, which is not favor
able to the success of his
cause.
Land reform, the Archbish-
ep said in his first state.
is a right of the farmers, who
need ii to lift themselves out
Of their present poverty.
He seid that tte Castro rev.
sutton has brought about a
human reform needed by the
farming population to live
and TO share in the benefits
OF U privileged land"
Premier Castro. he added,
is to be congratulated for
his inspiration as the only
revolutionary who has brought
improvement to the poorest
classes"
Archbishop Perez Serantes
Is the second prelate TO de.
clare publicly his support of
sgrarian reform. Earlier Aux.
ifisry Bishop Evelio Diaz Y
Ga of Havana had appealed
TO the wealthy TO back reform.
At that time the Bishop
said: Our agricultural reform
fits fully into the spirit and
aim of Christian social JUS
tice upheld by the pontiffs,
particularly by the encyclical,
Rerum Novarum."
The Bishop. however. spoke
before the text of the law was
officially published and be-
fore he knew of its provisions
In detail.
Following the first state
ment Of Archbishop Perez
Serantes, Premier Castro not
ed in a television interview
that a majority of Cuban
Catholics favor the agrarian
reform.
The Arehbishop's state
snent, the Premier said, ZAP.
pears TO me TO be extraordi-
nary, although there is the
danger that someone might
say the Archbishop is a com
munisf."
Premier Castro also said
that no one can doubt the sin
cerity Of the prelates who OBJ
posed the busted dictatorship
Of F'ulgenclo Batista, but have
received no favors from the
revolutionary regime.
BY their statements, he said.
The Catholic Church has
really placed itself in a reyo-
lutIonary position, and it NAV
be understood that in the so
clal order ii is the most rev
olutionary Church in Latin
America"
In the interview he defend.
ed land reform against those
who have used religious argu-
ments to attack 1t. He said
that anyone who truly feels
his religion and has a Chris
tan spirit is entirely in agree
ment with the measure"
He said that Chose who
have spoken aeai~
statement of the hierarchy"
are THE reaetionsry elements
who do not believe in relia-
leus principles" They are not
Catholics. he added, because
the great majority Of the
faithful support ~asrsrisn re-
form.
In his second statement. is.
sued in order to avoid mis-
understanding after his first
declaration had been gwen
wide publicity, Archbis h o
Perez Serantes emphas z e d