Cuba's Cardinal Makes Rare TV Appearance

[Say_What]

Anyone remember the Pope's trip to Cuba in 1998? It was a history making event, but the very same day the story about Monika Lewinsky broke and the MSM was called back to cover that years media circus. While in Cuba, Pope John condemned the embargo and called on the US and Cuba to settle their differences.

A few weeks ago Cardinal Ortega made a trip to the US where he was treated very poorly by US customs officials.
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<clips>

HAVANA (AP) - In a rare appearance on state TV, Cuba's top Catholic leader informed the communist country of Pope John Paul II's health problems Friday, paying tribute to a leader he called a ``moral reference for humanity.''

For many, Cardinal Jaime Ortega's comments were their first word of the serious downturn in the pontiff's health. Most Cubans only receive local television stations, with little access to international news outlets.

``This is a great man that's dying,'' Ortega said. ``This is a man who has carried the moral weight of this world during 26 years, and who at the same time has had the responsibility of converting himself into the only moral reference for humanity in recent years of wars, of difficulties.''

Ortega said that ``everything seems to indicate that dawn in Rome will bring his death.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4908382,00.html

[4_Legs_Good]

1. Didn't Castro go on national TV and just rant for 3 hours while the pope

was in country.

Hilarious, actually.

david

[Say_What]

3. Hardly

unless of course you believe the Miami propaganda machines. ;-)

On edit: Read the link to the CNN report about the Pope in Cuba--it gives a detailed report on all that happened there. It's really amazing how truely ignorant US sheeple are about Cuba and Castro.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1998/cuba.pope/

[4_Legs_Good]

4. :)

I have to listen to more Radio Habana. I can just barely get it on the shortwave, though my Spanish is very rusty...

david

[lenidog]

6. Its possible that he actually did

I mean he spent a couple hour ranting at Forbes magzine because they rate his wealth at a couple hundred million.

[Erika]

2. The Pope reached out through peace

Bush bombed the hell out of third world countries. Wonder which was on God's side?

[DELUSIONAL]

5. Make him the new pope!

That would irk the bushies.

[patricia92243]

7. Make BUSH the new Pope. The Freepers would have a hissy fit.

[DELUSIONAL]

9. No the Cuban Cardinal -- make him the Pope.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Jaime Ortega has been thought a possible candidate someday

for a very much higher position in Rome.

He's a very interesting person:

Cuba's Roman Catholic cardinal charges rude treatment by U.S. immigration officials




By Anita Snow
ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:05 p.m. March 3, 2005

HAVANA – The Roman Catholic Church in Cuba said Thursday that U.S. immigration authorities rudely treated its top prelate, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, during a visit to Miami. A U.S. official said only routine procedures were followed.

"During the exchanges with immigration officials, the treatment received by Cardinal Jaime Ortega was brusque and discourteous," read a communique issued by Cuba's Catholic Bishops Conference.

"Nevertheless, it must be clarified that there was no type of reference made to the cardinal's beliefs about the political situation in Cuba or in the United States," said the statement about the prelate's Feb. 25 arrival.

It added that U.S. immigration officials never mentioned a "deportation order," as was suggested by some media at the time.

Ortega was traveling on a diplomatic passport issued by the Vatican and a multiple entry American visa from the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.
(snip/...)

http://blog.zmag.org/index.php/weblog/entry/cuba1/