After five years of hard pastoral work and innumerable sacrifices, Pro-Vida Cuba (Cuba's pro-life organization), a lay ministry of the Catholic Church, fulfilled its dream of organizing its First National Encounter "At the Feet of Our Lady". The Encounter took place 25-28 November, 1999, at the meeting house of El Cobre, a few yards from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity, Patroness of Cuba. El Cobre is located in the Easternmost province of the island, Santiago de Cuba.

The Encounter was sponsored by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba and by Dr. María Concepción Morales, Director of Pro-Vida Cuba (PVC) and her husband, Dr. Héctor González, with the help of Dr. Raúl Martínez, pro-life coordinator of the Diocese of Santiago.

About 70 pro-life/family leaders, many young health professionals, gathered from the 14 dioceses of Cuba where PVC is present, as well as leaders of different pastoral movements of the Catholic Church in the island.

The Encounter was also honored by the presence of His Excellency Héctor Peña, Bishop of Holguín and President of the Bishop's Family Commission. Despite his tight schedule, due to the meeting Ecclesia in America in Havana during those days, Bishop Peña spent two days at the Encounter, during which he celebrated the Eucharist. In his homily, Bishop Peña expressed his pleasure and admiration for the great work of PVC in organizing the Encounter, notwithstanding the many difficulties and obstacles.

Several pro-life leaders from other countries graciously responded to PVC's invitation and traveled to Cuba to take part in the Encounter. They shared their experiences, gave talks and offered their moral support to this historical event of the Catholic Church in this country. Among these leaders were Dr. Jorge Scala, Coordinator of the Latin American Council for Life and Family of Vida Humana Internacional (Miami-based HLI's Hispanic Division); Lic. Jorge Serrano, President of Comité Nacional Pro Vida de México (that country's pro-life organization); Dr. Helvia Temprano, from Asociación Española de Profesores de Planificación Familiar Natural (Spain's Association of NFP Instructors); Mrs. Margarita Fraga Irribarne, Coordinator of Asociación Evangelium Vitae (Vida Humana Internacional's affiliate in Spain); her sister Teresa Fraga, a Spanish pro-life leader; and Mrs. Magaly Llaguno, Executive Director of Vida Humana Internacional (VHI).

Dr. Morales and Dr. González, together with all the above mentioned leaders, were received by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of Havana. Cardinal Ortega has always showed great interest in the work of Pro-Vida Cuba and in fact actively supports said work in his Archdiocesis.

Unfortunately, abortion has been legal in Cuba for the past 63 years. In 1936 a law was approved that allowed abortion in the cases of danger for the life of the mother, rape, incest or birth defects. All procured abortions are gravely wrong, but worse still was the fact that this law was extended in 1962 by the Communist government to allow abortion under any circumstance. In fact, when there is a suspicion that the unborn child is defective, the mother is pressured to abort.

However, despite the enormous number of abortions performed in Cuba for so many years, there was no organized pro-life movement until 1995. That year Pro-Vida Cuba was established as a lay apostolate within the Catholic Church, prompted by the training and aid VHI gave to Dr. Morales, the founder of this organization, together with her husband Dr. González.

The Encounter is the culmination of five years of hard work and sacrifice, of great efforts to take the pro-life\family message to a country that is hurting from the devastating sequel of abortion. Abortion, contraception and sterilization have made Cuba the country with the lowest birth rate in this hemisphere. This fact has began to concern the Cuban government, which despite being the only promoter and provider of abortion, fears the disastrous consequences of a continuous plummeting birth rate, already well below replacement level. It is feared that as the country ages, young people in the work force won't be able to support the senior population.

However, despite all the difficult circumstances under which the Cuban people live, there is hope for their future. There is a rebirth of the faith, specially after the Holy Father's visit in January of 1998. This visit is still bearing much fruit for the Kingdom of God. The enthusiasm, the love and the supernatural joy that the Cuban young pro-life leaders showed during the Encounter, lead us to believe that the Catholic Faith has been strengthened in that country. As in the rest of the Latin American countries, the pro-life movement in Cuba has found support and guidance in the Catholic Church and the international pro-life movement, specially in HLI and VHI. Let us remember the Cuban people in our prayers and sacrifices (and in our donations too!!), so that they can face their difficult daily circumstances and remain faithful to the Lord of Life.

Miss Jacqueline Debs is Manager of the VHI's International Department.