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John Sununu Issues Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
1998-0004-F[1]
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This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin: Chief of Staff, White House Office of
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Sununu, John, Files
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Issues Files
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29142
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Cardinal Law (1990)
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15
24
7
1
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Oct 23,90 14:30 No.004 P.02
CARDINAL' RESIDENCE
2/3
Uct. 23 'yy 9:43
1972 DIOCESE OF ST. MARON
10/23
Governor:
HOLY
Cardinal Law wanted to make
sure that both you and
the President saw this
press release from His
Holiness
PERMANENT OBSERVER MISSION OF THE HOLY SEE TO THE UNITED NATIO
734-2900
jak
ase
No.38/90
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II
AN APPEAL FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN LEBANON
To His Beatitude Nasrallah Pierre SFEIR.
Patriarch of Antloch of the Maronites.
BKERKE', LEBANON
I thank you deeply for the kind wishes. accompanied by the filial prayers of the Maronite
community. that you have addressed to me on the occasion of the anniversary of the beginning of my
pontificate.
On this occasion, I want to repeat once again to Your Beatitude, and through you to all the
Lebanese people without distinction, how close | am to'each one of them in these moments of sorrow
which they are undergoing. I think particularly of the recent events which have sown death and
destruction. For the families who are mourning their dead, for the wounded and for all who have been
sorely tried by these events of war and by the deplorable deeds which have followed. I implore the
Lord's mercy and consolation.
I ask Your Beatitude to assure your compatriots of every community that their country Is
constantly in the Pope's heart and that Is the object of very special attention in the Holy See's
International activity.
In keeping with these thoughts, I do not cease to ask God to grant to everyone the grace of
peace and reconcillation, so that, without delay. with appeased spirits and a common determination to
face together the building of their future, they will contribute to the prompt normalization of their
national life. I want to address myself, once again. to all who hold responsible positions and to those
who are still capable of acting in an unselfish and effective manner: I urge them to help the Lebanese
to overcome the rivalries and rancors of the past. At the same time, 1 tervently hope that everything
will be done to make this sovereign country free. as soon as possible, from all foreign military presence
Then, assuming responsibility for their decisions, your compatriots will be better able to regain
confidence in the national Institutions and to rebuild a society faithful to Its historical vocation. This is
the way that will allow the Lebanese people to find again the dignity and the freedom which the conflicts
and the violation of the sovereignty of their country have too frequently wounded.
With my affectionate apostolic blessing.
JOHANNES PAULUS =
From the Vatican, 19 October 1990
CARDINAL 'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Oct 16,90 9:47 No.003 P.02
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
2101 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02135
DIA
October 16, 1990
THE CHIEF of STAFF
has seen
Governor John Sununu
Chief of Staff
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Governor Sununu:
I spoke with you on the phone on Sunday concerning pending
legislative action on the legal immigration system.
As I mentioned to you, my concern is hightened by the fact that
I serve as Chairman of the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops' Committee on Migration and Refugee Services.
The staff for this committee in Washington has been monitoring
very closely the discussions taking place, particularly those
between Senator Kennedy and Senator Simpson. I have spoken
twice with Senator Kennedy over the last several days. The
position of Senator Simpson could render it impossible for the
U.S.C.C. to support the Bill. You will find the brief
memorandum attached a helpful review of the situation.
Quite specifically, I wonder if it would be possible for the
White House to urge the Justice Department to champion a
position more in keeping with the views of the White House?
There is a tendency for the Justice Department to go along with
the position of Senator Simpson, which we find unacceptable.
Thanking for anything you may be able to do on this, and any
word you might be able to provide me as to how we could be of
greater help in insuring the best possible legislative action, I
am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Archbishop of Boston
BCL/ac
CARDINAL 'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Oct 16,90 9:47 No.003 P.03
OCT 15
Congress has not reformed the legal immigration system since 1965. Since that time, it has
become evident that the system is inadequate. Huge backlogs have amassed in the family
preference categories, preventing families from reunifying; employers whose needs cannot be met
by the domestic labor pool are unable to bring workers into the U.S.; and immigration from
Europe, Ireland, Africa and the Caribbean is virtually nonexistent.
THE DIFFERING HOUSE AND SENATE APPROACHES
The House and Senate have each passed differing versions of legal immigration reform
legislation.
o
the House bill provides for about 40,000 more family preference visas than the
Senate bill;
0
the House bill has no artificial cap on the number of immigrants, while the Senate
bill does;
the House bill permits the immediate relatives of permanent residents to come into
the country without regard to per country cellings;
0
the House bill provides a temporary program for reducing the backlog of people
waiting for family reunification visas; and
o
the House bill eases current restrictions on the immigration of religious workers.
The USCC strongly SUPPORTS the House bill and would prefer to have the final bill reflect
the above House provisions. The Senate bill, S. 358 passed in July 1989. The House bill, HR
4300 passed early this month.
The House bill is supported by a broad coalition of groups, including the U.S. Catholic
Conference, the Heritage Foundation, the American Jewish Committee, the Hudson Institute, the
Organization of Chinese Americans, the Japanese American Citizens League, the National
Council of La Raza, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the American Bar
Association. Editorially, the House bill has been supported by such diverse editorial boards as
the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.
The House bill was also supported by a broad bipartisan majority in the House of
Representatives, including such Republicans as Representatives Lynn Martin (R-IL), Claudine
Schnelder (R-RI). Pat Saiki (R-HI), Thomas Tauke (R-IA), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Vin Weber
(R-MN), Henry Hyde (R-IL). And during Senate consideration of this legislation, A number of
Republican Senators supported the House approach, including Senators Phil Gramm (R-TX), Pete
CARDINAL RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Oct 16,90 9:47 No.003 P.04
OCT 15 "50 20:01
F.4
Wilson (R-CA), Rudy Boschwicz (R-MN), and John Danforth (R-MO).
ATTEMPTS AT COMPROMISE
The USCC and other family immigration groups acknowledge that the final bill will have to be
a compromise between the more generous House bill and the Senate bill. In that regard, we have
asked that the House and Senate take a "split the difference approach" to resolving the differing
versions of the legal immigration bill, Unfortunately, Senator Simpson has pursued an
obstructionist approach, insisting that the final bill be more restrictive than even the Senate bill.
He has refused to permit a conference committee to be constituted unless he gets prior agreement
that the final product reflect this more restrictive approach.
In addition to the cap on immigration, Senator Simpson is also insisting on other items that have
either already been rejected by the Senate or that have never been considered by either body.
These include a wall or moat at the US/Mexico border and movement toward a national ID card.
These demands are a precondition to a conference on the bill. It is our assessment that he may
not support the bill even if his demands are met.
USCC POSITIONS
CAP: We strongly oppose the notion of a cap on legal immigration, especially one that would
force competition between family preference visas and the spouses and minor children of U.S.
citizens. If a cap is necessary for a compromise with Senator Simpson, the Senator should be
prepared to accept a more generous level of protection for family visas.
SECOND PREFERENCE - SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS: We
appreciate Senator Simpson's earlier offer to accept the House bill's provisions on the second
preference visa category, and we would oppose any retrenchment on this offer.
BACKLOG REDUCTION: The current 1.5 million person backlog for children of U.S. citizens
is unacceptable, and we would encourage Senator Simpson to drop his opposition to the House
bill's modest temporary backlog reduction program.
RELIGIOUS WORKERS: We encourage Senator Simpson to accept the House provision that
permits religious workers to immigrate to the U.S. more easily.
164882
READING
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
2101 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02135
TO LIVE IS CHRIST
August 4, 1990
THE CHIEF of STAFF
The Honorable John H. Sununu
Chief of Staff to the President
has seen
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Governor Sununu:
I thought you might be interested in a copy of the report on my visit to the refugee
camps in Thailand and Hong Kong. The report includes my observations of camp
conditions and of the screening process. It concludes with a series of recommendations
for action to help alleviate the asylum crisis in Southeast Asia.
I applaud the Administration's continued opposition to the forced repatriation of
Vietnamese boat people. However, that debate is symptomatic of the disintegration of
first asylum in Southeast Asia. The US government could pursue several alternatives to
ease the crisis. These include the expansion and acceleration of the Orderly Departure
Program and greater resettlement options for Vietnamese refugees.
The Catholic Church has developed an Emergency Resettlement Initiative (ERI) in
response to the crisis facing refugees in Southeast Asia. The goal of ERI is to increase
the opportunities available for resettlement and to encourage resettlement and first
asylum countries to pursue more generous refugee assistance policies. I will be writing
to my brother Bishops in the US in the near future to urge them to participate in the ERI
as a means of underscoring the Church's commitment to refugees.
Resettlement opportunities are important, but it is equally important to ensure that
the boat people are treated fairly and humanely. To this end, my report recommends a
series of measures to improve the screening process: pre-interview counselling; regular
evaluation of the screening process and better training for interviewers and interpreters;
and an open accessible appeal process. In addition, safe living conditions for boat people
should be ensured and education, health care and training should be provided. A
temporary regional holding center designed to provide a humane environment for those
denied refugee status could ease the situation.
Finally, it is clear that the only way to resolve the Vietnamese refugee crisis is to
promote change that would bring economic development and political and religious
freedom for the Vietnamese people. Renewed diplomatic ties and normalization of trade
with Vietnam might provide the initial impetus toward the evolution of freedom there.
Secretary of State Baker's interest in opening a dialogue with the government of Vietnam
to discuss Kampuchea is a welcomed step forward.
With warm personal regards, I am,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Bennard Cardenal Law
Bernard Cardinal Law
Chairman, Committee on Migration
National Conference of Catholic Bishops
UNITED STATES
CATHOLIC
Migration and Refugee Services
National Office
CONFERENCE 3211 4th Street N.E. Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3220 FAX (202) 541-3399 TELEX 7400424
FIRST ASYLUM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
STATEMENT OF BERNARD CARDINAL LAW, CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS' COMMITTEE ON MIGRATION
The withdrawal of the United States from Vietnam in 1975 marked the beginning of a
flow of refugees overland and by boat into neighboring Southeast Asian countries of first
asylum. As Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Migration, I led a delegation which
visited Thailand and Hong Kong to show support for these refugees and to ascertain what
might be done to assist them further. Our delegation was comprised of Msgr. William F.
Murphy and Msgr. Timothy J. Moran of the Archdiocese of Boston, as well as Msgr.
Nicholas DiMarzio and Fr. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., of the United States Catholic
Conference's Office of Migration and Refugee Services.
From June 24 to July 1 this year, we visited refugee camps in both countries and
witnessed first hand the living conditions and anxieties faced by these uprooted people. We
also met with a number of highly placed government officials in Thailand and Hong Kong as
well as representatives of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and
the voluntary agencies.* These individuals play an important role in their respective nations'
assistance to refugees--an assistance that has saved the lives of thousands since 1975. It was
particularly gratifying to witness firsthand the Church's work on behalf of refugees. While
our visit afforded an opportunity to come in contact with some of the other ethnic groups
making up the 400,000 refugees and displaced persons in Thailand, such as Cambodians and
Burmese, this report will focus exclusively on Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers.
To date, over one million Vietnamese have been resettled in the West. Tragically, an
estimated 400,000 Vietnamese boat people have drowned or died violently at the hands of
pirates. This migration continues to this day. The Vietnamese in first asylum in Southeast
Asia have put great pressure on the countries in the region. Hong Kong is host to some
55,000 Vietnamese boat people, while Indonesia and Malaysia each house just over 17,000
and Thailand provides shelter to another 14,000.
The Catholic Church has maintained a constant commitment to the care of these
refugees, exemplified by the work of the International Catholic Migration Commission
(ICMC), founded in 1951 by then Msgr. Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI. In this
country, the United States Catholic Conference's Office of Migration and Refugee Services
(USCC/MRS) carries out refugee resettlement and assistance on behalf of the U.S. Catholic
Bishops. The Catholic Church's care for refugees involves not only direct service, but also
advocacy for programs and policies which affect the refugee situation. It is upon this latter
aspect--advocacy--that I bring the following observations to bear on the kind of immediate
and long term policies that might best address the needs of the refugees.
The Comprehensive Plan of Action
Before considering solutions to the dilemmas facing Vietnamese boat people, the
current situation must be examined. The international agreement regarding Vietnamese
refugees, known as the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA), was ratified by 70 nations in a
June 1989 meeting held in Geneva. The CPA was devised to cope with the crisis in
Southeast Asia precipitated by a sudden surge in Vietnamese boat arrivals, coupled with the
frustration of first asylum countries with the dwindling resettlement opportunities for refugees
who had been in camps for many years.
The CPA has six major components: preservation of first asylum in the region,
screening, resettlement, repatriation, expansion of the Orderly Departure Program (ODP) and
the possibility of establishing a regional holding center for refugees. The CPA is an effort to
balance the interests of first asylum countries and those of traditional resettlement countries
which want to maintain first asylum in the region. The CPA represents a commitment to
determine the legitimacy of refugee claims in a fair manner, while recognizing the limited
ability of first asylum countries to care for applicants and of third countries to provide
resettlement opportunities.
The CPA has not had an encouraging beginning. Within six months of its
implementation, 51 refugees were forcibly repatriated to Vietnam from Hong Kong. The
government of Malaysia has begun to push boats crowded with refugees back to sea. In fact,
the most elemental aspects of the CPA are operating at standards below those envisioned by
the plan's creators.
2
The Need for Adequate Housing
An element basic to the CPA is providing adequate housing for refugee applicants
awaiting determination of their status. The living conditions endured by Vietnamese boat
people in Hong Kong must be improved, using the camps in Thailand as an example. There
the atmosphere is palpably different from that in the Hong Kong camps. In Thailand, the
camps function more as villages. Families prepare their own food and there is a much greater
freedom of movement. Educational programs for children and adults, as well as medical
services are freely provided. In short, refugees in Thai camps exercise some control over
their lives.
In contrast, Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong are warehoused in detention centers
under appalling conditions. It is not an exaggeration to compare these camps to prisons. The
centers are cramped and barren, surrounded by barbed wire and high fences. They are
overcrowded and unsafe, especially for women. Space is at a premium in Hong Kong for
most of its citizens, but that does not justify the dehumanizing conditions in the detention
centers. The Hong Kong camps, which do not meet the UNHCR's minimum acceptable
standards, are pervaded with an aura of anxiety, anger and frustration. Educational
opportunities are few and access to health care is limited.
Screening Refugee Applicants
It is disturbing to see the increased tendency of receiving and resettlement countries
to categorize incoming boat people as economic migrants. In principle, it is perfectly correct
for a government to determine genuine claims for asylum, and most normal deportation
proceedings deal with this fundamental problem. With Vietnamese asylum claims, however,
it is especially difficult to distinguish between economic migrants and refugees because the
situation in Vietnam is so ambiguous. Although there is some evidence pointing to
improvements in the economic situation, one cannot speak of an improved political climate.
Vietnam is still a restricted society, exercising tight controls over the lives of their citizens.
The basis of a well-founded fear of persecution is defined in international law. It is unclear,
however, what specifically constitutes persecution. Catholic social teaching would understand
persecution as involving threats to a person's dignity. That dignity includes the right to order
one's life according to religious moral principles and the right to provide for the correct
3
education and proper care for one's self and family. For these reasons, a distinction between
genuine refugees and economic migrants is difficult-sometimes impossible--to make.
It is even less possible to have confidence in such distinctions when the refugee
determination process seems to have serious deficiencies. The integrity of the CPA rests on a
credible screening process. Even the best screening system could mistakenly screen out the
occasional individual but, especially in Hong Kong, there seem to be an alarmingly high rate
of failures in the process. Both the UNHCR and the Hong Kong government immigration
bureau note that they are understaffed. The UNHCR is able to review only a small
percentage of all the applications for refugee status. Hong Kong government staff is too
small to allow interviewers to spend an appropriate amount of time on every case. Once in
the interview, the applicant's fate may be in the hands of an interpreter whose Vietnamese is
weak or out of date and an interviewer who is determined to conclude the session quickly.
One result of this is that bona fide refugees are being "screened-out"--that is, determined not
to be refugees. Former officials in the South Vietnam army who have suffered in reeducation
camps and who, after release, continue to experience discrimination and social disabilities,
have been denied refugee status. Of particular concern to us are Catholic seminarians, nuns
and lay leaders, as well as religiously active Buddhists who have also been deemed non-
refugees. Apparently, the religious grounds for claiming refugee status have not always been
given enough weight in the screening process. Immigration officials and UNHCR personnel
need to be better informed about the current conditions of religious life in Vietnam.
Improvements must be made in the screening process if it is to operate with integrity.
This is especially true when one of the elements of the CPA is repatriation. Every precaution
must be taken to ensure that the process is exceptionally dependable, consistent and generous.
Repatriation
Aside from the potential for error in even the best screening system, involuntary
repatriation is unacceptable for Vietnamese asylum seekers. Given the conditions of the Hong
Kong centers, there is even some question whether "volunteering" to repatriate is an act of
free will or one of desperation.
Hong Kong has been a consistent port of first asylum for Vietnamese boat people
4
since 1975. Hong Kong has never turned a boat away. Their humane response, one not
always present in the region, must be recognized. Certainly, it is necessary to understand the
fear and anxiety of the citizens of Hong Kong as they face the uncertainties of 1997. The
People's Republic of China has already indicated that Vietnamese refugees on Hong Kong
soil will not be tolerated after that time. However, this does not justify forcing the boat
people back to Vietnam. To be able to live in peace and security is central to human dignity.
The boat people have risked great danger and have shown the depth of their determination not
to return to a land they fear. To force such people back can only become a deeper tragedy.
A poignant expression of the boat people's sentiments was a sign I saw in a Hong Kong
camp. It read: "Kill us, but don't send us back."
It has been argued that Hong Kong is justified in repatriating asylum seekers forcibly
because the U.S. government pursues the same policy. The Church in the U.S. has
consistently opposed any government deportation policy that violates the human rights of
asylum-seekers. The Church is concerned that voluntary repatriation measures should take
into account the continued well-being of those repatriated. More than 3,700 Vietnamese boat
people have returned willingly to Vietnam from Hong Kong. The UNHCR, which is charged
with monitoring the welfare of those who have returned voluntarily, is overwhelmed by the
work involved in this role. Their lack of personnel is critical. It is still against the law for a
Vietnamese to leave Vietnam illegally, and returnees may still face harassment by local
officials.
Deterrence
Conditions in Hong Kong camps seem designed to discourage further departures of
boat people for Hong Kong. Boat arrivals of ethnic Vietnamese from the North, for example,
are significantly lower than they were last year at this time. 8,524 ethnic Vietnamese from
the North arrived in Hong Kong in May 1989. One year later that number dropped to one.
Discouraging all asylum seekers may well deter people with legitimate claims to refugee
status from seeking first asylum in Hong Kong. Any policy which would deliberately make
the living conditions of asylum-seekers uncomfortable and harsh, limit the opportunities for
refugee status through a narrow screening process and present the specter of forced return to
Vietnam to deter future refugees must be considered indefensible. To use people in this way
would violate their human dignity.
5
Observing the circumstances that Vietnamese boat people endure in their quest for
refugee status has proven a valuable lesson. In the spirit of the Church's commitment to
refugees, there are a number of recommendations I would like to make that would improve
the plight of the refugees and contribute to an equitable, generous and humane operation of
the CPA.
Recommendations
o
The United States government should expand and accelerate the Orderly
Departure Program. All 20,000 holders of current immigration visas who are ready
to move and to whom the government of Vietnam has granted exit permits should be
moved out of Vietnam as quickly as possible. Such a move, even if it required a
massive airlift or planned boat departures, would relieve pressure on the Southeast
Asian region. Meanwhile, within Vietnam a more widespread education campaign
should be conducted to inform people of the availability of ODP, the U.S. political
prisoner program, and the Amerasian program. Applicants for ODP and their relatives
in the US should be told approximately when their visas would be current and when
their interviews will take place. This is extremely important information for an
individual deciding how best to migrate.
o
Given the reasonable judgment of the severe difficulties these people would face upon
returning to Vietnam, as well as the reasonable hope that there may be major changes
in Vietnam in the coming years, the best moral response seems to be to seek more
time for these changes to occur while providing humane conditions in the interim.
Efforts to improve the screening process and the conditions in the camps will take
time. Whether refugees reside temporarily in first asylum camps or in a regional
holding center, conditions should be humane and as open as possible. International
assistance agencies could ensure that skills and transitional training for those screened
in as refugees as well as those who are screened out are provided more effectively.
A regional holding center, envisioned in the CPA as a temporary, interim measure
might ease the situation. The regional center would provide a safe, humane interlude
for those denied refugee status. During this time counselling and educational
opportunities could prepare them to resume their lives in Vietnam when they could do
so without risk of retaliation and persecution. The center should create an
environment that echoes village life, allowing the refugees to do their own cooking
and have some control over their daily lives. Voluntary agencies and international
organizations should have access to the center. Opportunities for training and
education should be provided.
6
0
Improvements to the screening process should be made along three tracks.
i.
Pre-Interview Counselling: Systematic pre-interview preparation or
counselling should be implemented. Applicants should be fully informed of
their rights and of the standards used in deciding claims for refugee status.
The forms used by the Hong Kong government should be reviewed with a
focus on instructing the individual to fill them out correctly. In addition, the
interview process should be carefully explained so that the applicant knows
what to expect.
ii.
The Interview Process: The interview and adjudication processes should be
reviewed and evaluated regularly. Interpreters should be fully trained in and
conversant with modern Vietnamese. Interviewers should be trained to be
sensitive. They should receive formal training in the situation in Vietnam, with
a special emphasis on forms of persecution, especially religious discrimination
and abuse. Interviewers should focus on obtaining as much information as
possible about the applicant's case for refugee status. The applicant should be
privy to a written record of the interview in his or her native language so that
he or she can make sure answers are represented correctly. The applicant
should be extended the benefit of the doubt when making a claim. This
includes generously interpreting the refugee definition to include individuals
who, though they may not meet the strict refugee criteria, nevertheless have
fled an egregious threat to their human dignity.
iii.
Open Appeal Process: An open, accessible appeal process should be
implemented. There are a number of creative options available that should be
pursued. One possibility would be to engage volunteer lawyers to help the
boat people prepare their cases. Those representing denied refugee claimants in
the appeals process should clearly be independent of the Hong Kong
government. The review board should be required to issue explanations of
denials.
The United States Catholic Conference and other voluntary agencies could
cooperate with the Hong Kong Government and the United Nations in
providing volunteer assistance in the pre-interview, interview, and open appeals
process.
o
The protection and treatment of refugees in Southeast Asia is contingent on a chain of
actions. For example, if the screening process is modified so that it identifies the
majority of the true refugee cases, then there would be more "screened in" refugees in
need of resettlement opportunities. In fact, two to three times the number of persons
currently screened in would stand in need of resettlement. Western nations must,
therefore, be ready to deliver on their commitments to expand programs for
Vietnamese refugees.
7
o
The Catholic Church has developed an Emergency Resettlement Initiative (ERI)
through the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). ICMC
coordinates the program with the assistance of its episcopal conference affiliates as the
Catholic response to the critical situation of refugees in the camps of Southeast Asia
and elsewhere throughout the world. MRS will coordinate the effort for the dioceses
of the United States. The goal of ERI is to increase the opportunities available for
resettlement and to encourage both resettlement and first asylum countries to pursue
more generous assistance policies toward refugees. It is intended to secure an
additional number of resettlement slots per year to reduce the number of refugees who
have already spent a considerable amount of time in the camps (longstayers), as well
as those persons in vulnerable situations throughout the world (Persons at Risk). The
method by which additional resettlement opportunities are secured in resettlement
countries will vary depending on the immigration laws of particular countries.
o
The best and only solution that will solve the Vietnamese refugee problem in the
long run, hinges on a change in Vietnam which would not only enable economic
development, but would also assure political and religious freedom for people to
live in dignity and without fear. A concerted international effort should be brought
to bear on Vietnam's future. The U.S. should seek to use effectively whatever
leverage the possibility of renewed diplomatic ties and normalization of trade
relationships might provide for the crucial steps toward the evolution of freedom in
Vietnam. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III's recent announcement that the Bush
Administration is entering a dialogue with the Vietnamese government to discuss
Kampuchea is a welcomed step forward. As the U.S. Bishops stated last year,
"neither the pressing needs of the Vietnamese people nor the concerns of the
United States government can be effectively addressed without continuing,
intensive and regular official dialogue The level of official U.S. presence
during this process should reflect the progress being made in resolving the
important human rights, religious liberty and other issues we have enumerated,
which we believe are essential for genuine and long-lasting reconciliation."
Conclusion
First asylum must be maintained both in principle and in fact within the context of just
screening procedures, adequate monitoring of the repatriated, and the promotion of
alternatives to forced return. Such alternatives might include a new temporary, safe and
humane holding center, an expanded Orderly Departure Program in Vietnam, increased
resettlement opportunities in Western countries, and such private efforts as the Emergency
Resettlement Initiative now being organized by the International Catholic Migration
8
Commission. The Church's fundamental commitment to protecting and enhancing the human
dignity of each refugee is an expression of a faith-centered ethic that sees Jesus Christ in each
refugee. As the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, said in his July 5 address to ICMC:
"Catholics who place themselves at the service of migrants and of refugees cannot
forget that they are the disciples of Him who is recognized by the attributes of the
Good Samaritan and who Himself affirms to us that He identifies Himself with the
poor and the stranger."
9
*Thailand
In Thailand we met with the Archbishop of Bangkok, Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, who accompanied us
on our visit to the camps near the Cambodian border. The Church's refugee services in Thailand are coordinated
by the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR), directed by Fr. Bunlert Tharachatr. The
Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Thailand, Msgr. Alberto Tricarico, extended us every courtesy.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Khun Somporn Klinpongsa; the Director General of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of International Organizations, Ambassador Kasit Piromya; the
Secretary General of the National Security Council, Khun Suwit Suthanukul; Mr. Santi Kerd-in, Camp
Commander of Phanat Nikhom; and Col. Hat Wirasamrit, Chief of DPPU, all took time from their busy
schedules to discuss refugee issues with our group.
I profited greatly from my meetings with U.S. Government officials in Thailand. The Ambassador, Daniel A.
O'Donohue; the Deputy Chief of Mission, Victor Tomseth; and Alan Jury, the Refugee Coordinator, were all
extremely helpful. I would also like to thank Mr. Ben Foster, District Director, Immigration and Naturalization
Service; Mr. Ralph Boyce, Political Counselor, U.S. Department of State; and Mr. Bob Costantino, Education
and Health Program Specialist, Refugee and Migration Affairs, U.S. Department of State, for their valuable
comments.
The following people also shared generously of their time and knowledge of the refugee situation: Fr. Thomas
Steinbugler, S.J., Regional Director, Jesuit Refugee Services, Asia-Pacific; Fr. John Bingham S.J., Edie Trotno,
and Sr. Patricia Franklin, COERR/JRS; Ms. Therese Caouette, Jesuit Refugee Service; Fr. Alphonso de Juan,
S.J.; Dennis Grace, Joint Voluntary Agency Representative, Thailand (IRC); and Ms. Mary Pack, Immigrant
Visa-Humanitarian Parole Supervisor/JVA-First Asylum.
I am grateful to Ms. Anne P. Convery, the ICMC Joint Voluntary Representative for the U.S. Orderly Departure
Program, for coordinating our visit to Thailand.
Hong Kong
The Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal John Baptist Cheng-Chung Wu, and the staff of Caritas Hong Kong,
directed by Rt. Rev. John B. Tsang, Vicar General, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and Vice President of
Caritas, hosted and coordinated the Hong Kong portion of our visit. I would also like to acknowledge the
diligence of the individuals we met in Hong Kong. Ms. Suzy Comerford, Sr. Mary Teufel, and other American
volunteers are working long hours in the detention centers. Fr. Peter Newbery, S.D.B., Prisons Chaplain, Hong
Kong Correctional Services and Fr. Louis Robert, S.J., Chaplain for detention centers are doing a fine job under
less than ideal conditions.
Many government officials were generous with their time during our stay in Hong Kong. I was able to meet
with the Hon. Sir David Ford, Acting Governor General, and Mr. Michael Hansen, Refugee Coordinator of the
Government's Security Branch, and was encouraged by the positive attitudes displayed by each. The US Consul
General, Richard Williams, also met with us.
Meetings with UNHCR staff were also fruitful in both countries. In Thailand, Mr. Pierre Jambor, Director
General, and, in Hong Kong, Mr. Robert van Leeuwen, UNHCR Director General, gave me valuable briefings.
10
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 6, 1990
MEMORANDUM FOR GOVERNOR SUNUNU
CHIEF OF STAFF
FROM:
DOUG WEAD
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC
LIAISON
SUBJECT:
ROSE KENNEDY FAMILY APPRECIATION DAY
Bernard Cardinal Law telephoned for information on this event.
Has the President, indeed, proclaimed July 22nd as "Rose
Fitzgerald Kennedy Appreciation Day"?
Paul McNeil from Correspondence tells us that the joint
resolution has passed the Senate and is now in committee in the
I
House. The President has not yet signed.
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No.001 P.01
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
2101 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02135
FAX NUMBER: 617-782-8358
TO:
Mr. Doug Wead
The White House
FROM:
Bernard Cardinal Law
Archbishop of Bos ton
DATE:
6/6/90
TIME SENT:
10:50 a.m.
COMMENTS:
# OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER 7
CARBINAL RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No.001 P.02
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
1350 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 500
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-4709
(202) 393-1250'
On Sunday, July 22, 1990, our grandmother, Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy, will celebrate her 100th birthday. On that day, her
family will gather to honor this woman of courage and unwavering
hope who has been an inspiration to many. In preparing for this
occasion, we decided to extend this celebration beyond our
immediate family and invite others to join us in appreciating the
gifts of familial love.
To mark this occasion, President Bush will designate July 22,
1990 as Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Family Appreciation Day. The
President will ask all Americans, in their own way, to make this
day a renewal of family ties and relationships. In the
proclamation he will ask Americans to telephone family members who
are far from home. He will suggest family activities, such as
picnics, outings and going to places of interest. And, of course,
the President will ask families to go to their places of worship to
pray together and hear sermons and texts reconfirming their faith
and support for the family.
We believe this day is a fitting tribute to our grandmother,
who placed great significance on raising and nurturing the family
throughout the years. Inspired by her trust and faith in God, we
hope this celebration of Family Appreciation Day will motivate many
families in our country to cherish family relationships and deepen
the memories that bring joy and happiness throughout the
generations.
As the grandchildren of Rose Kennedy, we would like to ask
your cooperation in making this day a significant celebration in
your churches. We are confident that sermons and prayers at the
Sunday gathering, as well as the encouragement of prayer at home,
will assist in making this day a special occasion for all.
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No.001 P.03
Specifically, Your Eminence, we are asking you to do four
things. First, would you see to it that National Family
Appreciation Day is encouraged and promoted in your diocesan
newspaper. Second, would you encourage the priests in your diocese
to deliver sermons on behalf of family life on Sunday, July 22.
Third, would you ask parish agencies that deal with family life to
take this opportunity to promote the celebration of Family
Appreciation Day. Fourth, would you invite parishes to include an
intention in the General Intercessions for the growth and deepening
of family love. Parishes could also be encouraged to publish a
blessing formula in the bulletins to promote a family gathering of
prayer on that day.
To assist you in these requests, I have enclosed the
following:
*
An information sheet on Family Appreciation Day.
*
Sample petitions for the General Intercessions which
could be offered to parish liturgy teams.
*
A sample bulletin announcement for the parishes.
*
Citations from the recently published Book of Blessings
which might be helpful to parishes in preparing prayers
to be used by families.
Thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor. We hope
Family Appreciation Day will be a time of prayer and happiness for
American families in an era of transition and unrest. It is our
prayer, on the centenary of our grandmother's birth, that God will
continue to bless family life and deepen the love of all people.
Respectfully,
ansign
Anthony K. Shriver and the
Grandchildren of Rose Kennedy
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No.001 P.04
ROSE FITZGERALD KENNEDY
FAMILY APPRECIATION DAY, JULY 22, 1990
Family has always been the most important concern in Rose
Kennedy's life. Her children were always at the top of her list
of priorities. Rose was, and is, to her family the glue of love,
attention and caring that holds it together. What better way to
celebrate her 100th birthday than to celebrate the importance of
the national family--not just her family, but the Family, which
is the glue that holds society together.
We hear and read that the American Family is in deep
trouble. Families are breaking up; single parent families,
parentless families, and the not always successfully blended
families of divorce are increasing in number each year. Domestic
violence, homelessness and substance abuse are becoming chronic
social and community problems. Yet, the great majority of
Americans, whatever their family structure or circumstance, still
hold fast to the values and virtues of family strength and unity.
These grandparents, parents and children and, indeed all
Americans who are struggling to create a better and more secure
family life, should be both honored for their effort and reminded
what a glorious treasure an intact, together family is.
Rose Kennedy inspired and led her children into successful
and responsible adult life. For years, she has been listed among
the most respected women, not only of America, but of the world.
why? Because despite great sorrows and of fate, she has never
wavered in her determination that her family will hold together
and endure generation to generation.
The purpose of Family Appreciation Day honoring Rose
Kennedy's 100th birthday is to remind all Americans that children
are human treasures, as well as responsibilities, and that family
values should always be encouraged, strengthened and enlivened,
not just by family members but by all public and private
enterprises. The goal is to show that there are people in all
walks of life, all economic groups, all races, religions and
ethnic backgrounds who do have happy and together families. It
is to remind us all who are busy, preoccupied, separated from our
roots that our extended families need and deserve our attention,
our appreciation and our love.
Proclaimed by both Houses of Congress and by the President
of the United States, Family Appreciation Day calls upon
individuals and family groups to refresh and rededicate
themselves to family values and relationships. On the 100th
birthday of America's most honored and revered matriarch it calls
upon family members to demonstrate their appreciation through a
few simple acts of thoughtfulness and respect:
1. To call or write family members who are distant and
apart. Start on Family Appreciation Day and carry on the
CARDINAL RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No.001 P.05
practice for the whole year. As an incentive, the major phone
companies are offering special reduced rates on July 22. But the
communication should extend beyond the single day to become a
regular expression of family closeness.
2. To plan multi-generational activities together: a
picnic, outing, family dinner at home or out, a baseball game,
etc. Start on Family Appreciation Day and keep it up throughout
the year.
3. To honor your Family at a religious service; attend your
place of worship with as many family members as possible. Pray
for your family and all families.
4. To reflect on the status of your family. Can you be a
better grandparent, parent, or child? In what ways can you make
more of an effort to make your family happy, content and
together. Start on Family Appreciation Day and keep it up
throughout the year.
In closing, remember through the example of Rose Kennedy,
that family closeness is strengthened and enhanced by service to
the people of your neighborhood, and your community. That is the
dominant message of Rose Kennedy's life and her hopes and
aspirations for her family: from those to whom much is given,
much is expected. And the greatest gift of all is a close,
together, loving and happy family.
CARDINAL'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No.001 P.06
SAMPLE INTERCESSIONS FOR FAMILY APPRECIATION DAY
One of the following petitions can be added to the General
Intercessions on Sunday, July 22, 1990. This day has been
designated by President Bush as Family Appreciation Day, in honor
of the 100th birthday of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy.
*
Let us pray for all families in this country. That, in
a time of transition and unrest, all persons will have some place
to call home. We pray to the Lord.
*
As our country celebrates Family Appreciation Day, let us
pray for peace in our families; the end of abuse and dysfunction in
our homes; and for the strength of genuine love for our children
and our children's children. We pray to the Lord.
*
Mindful of the importance of the family for the well-
being of church and culture, let us pray for families of all kinds.
We pray that parents will be sound in their commitments to love,
that children will find guidance and nurturing in abundance, and
that all homes will know the fullness of life in Christ. We pray.
to the Lord.
CARDINAL 'S RESIDENCE
TEL: 1-617-782-8358
Jun 06,90 9:56 No .001 P.07
A SAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PARISH BULLETIN
President Bush will designate Sunday, July 22, 1990, Rose
Fitzgerald Kennedy Family Appreciation Day. The inspiration for
this celebration is Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, a family woman of
great strength and motivation who celebrates her 100th birthday on
this day. Families in our parish are encouraged to pray together
this afternoon and to ask the blessing of God on all the members
of the household. To make this day special, families are also
invited to do something together for recreation and fun.
To assist you in praying together, the following blessing is
offered:
(Here a blessing prayer for families might be added. A blessing
of families may also be given at the close of the Mass. In both
cases, the following citations from the Book of Blessings, might
prove helpful.)
CITATION FROM THE BOOK OF BLESSINGS
The following paragraph citations from the Book of Blessings are
useful in preparing blessing prayers for families on Family
Appreciation Day.
1.
Order for the Blessing of a Family: Paragraphs 42-61.
2.
Order of Blessing within Mass: Paragraphs 62-66.
3.
Order for the Blessing of Sons and Daughters:
Paragraphs 174-194.
4.
Order for the Blessing of Elderly People Confined to
their Homes: Paragraphs 344-362.
Note
Cardinal Law's Visit
to the Bishops of Cuba
February 18 - 20, 1990
Cardinal's Party: Bishop Roberto Gonzalez, Msgr. William Murphy,
Msgr. Timothy Moran.
Schedule:
Sunday, Feb. 18
4:00pm
Arrival, Jose Marti Airport
-11:00pm
Present: Nuncio, Archbishop Sainz,
Archbishop Ortega of Havana, Dr.
Carneado, Chief of Bureau of
Religious Affairs.
7:00pm
Initial Meeting, Casa Sacerdotal
Present: Cardinal's Party,
Archbishop Ortega, Archbishop
Meurice, Msgr. de Cespedes,
and later, Bishop Rodriguez.
Monday Feb 19 8:00am Breakfast at Residence of Mr. Taylor
-10:30am
Cardinal's Party, Archbishop
Ortega and Msgr. de Cespedes
11:00am
Meeting at Nunciature
-1:00pm
Present: Cardinal's Party,
Archbishop Ortega, Archbishop
Meurice, Bishop Prego, Bishop
Rodriguez, Msgr. de Cespedes,
Archbishop Sainz, Msgr.
Courtney.
5:00pm
Meeting with President Castro at the
-7:45pm
Palace of the Revolution
Present: Cardinal's Party, Dr.
Jose M. Miyar Barrueco, Dr.
Filipe Carneado, Translator.
8:00pm
Dinner at Nunciature
Present: Archbishop Sainz, all
the Bishops of Cuba,
Cardinal's
Party,
Vice-President
Carlos
Rodriguez, a Member of the
Council, Msgr. de Cespedes,
Msgr Courtney.
9:40pm
Visit of Castro to the Nunciature
-12:00am
Present, as above for dinner,
President Castro, Secretary
and Translator.
- 2 -
Tuesday Feb 20
9:00am
Meeting of Cuban Bishops' Conference
-1:00pm at Casa Sacerdotal
Present: Bishops of Cuba, Msgr
de Cespedes, Archbishop Sainz,
Msgr. Courtney, Cardinal's
Party.
3:00pm Departure, Jose Martì Airport
Present: Archbishop Sainz,
Archbishop Ortega, Dr.
Carneado, Mr. Taylor.
Observations
Church in Cuba:
The Church seems to continue to strengthen herself,
despite the narrow field of activity allowed her.
The new possibility for pastoral work in the prisons and in
hospitals has proved most welcomed, even though there had
been some difficulties initially (This change has been made
public by the Cuban Government only these past weeks, a year
after the change had begun).
A series of public religious processions begun in
preparation for the Holy Father's Visit have been successful
far beyond the Bishops' expectations. In a place near
Havana where usually around 200 participate at Sunday Mass,
over 13,000 took part in the procession of Our Lady of
Cobre. the police have been helpful in crowd control. The
events have remained clearly religious, non-political,
although the push for social freedom is palpably present in
the crowds and in the prayers.
The Bishops made clear the need for the Church to be able to
exercise her prophetic role and a critical one with regard
to society. Mention was made of the positive comments
given in the wake of Archbishop Ortega's declaration against
capital punishment at the time of the Ochoa affair.
The Bishops made clear their desire to see an end to the
ideologial anti-religious bias present in public
education, and to have more opportunity for pastoral work
with the young people.
- 3 -
The Bishops expressed their grave concern for the present
moment in Cuba. There is a marked tension or foreboding
that something is about to happen. The public reaction to
the Ochoa affair, some recent burnings of public buildings
and some manifestations of discontent leave the Bishops with
apprehension that social strife or violence could errupt, to
the great disadvantage of the people. It is their
contention that it would not be wise just to let things run
their course. It is necessary to achieve significant but
planned social change.
Conversation with Castro:
Cardinal Law met with Castro at the latter's request.
The Cardinal emphasized:
the concerns of the Cuban Bishops that the Church be
free to exercise a prophetic and critical role within
Cuban society.
that there are universal values which need to be
realized in every society, for their intrinsic worth to
the development of the people.
the importance of developing a sense of
interdependence among nations, particularly between
the U.S. and Cuba, and throughout Latin America.
that the danger for Cuba is not primarily external,
but internal, therefore the importance of developing
respect for human rights and for the rights of the
Church in Cuban society.
that Castro should act to bring about needed change,
and follow the path of interdependence.
that the gains of the revolution should not be lost,
but built upon.
Castro emphasized:
that the 4th Party Congress would address the need for
rectification withing Cuban political, economic and
social structures. Rectification means the study and
analysis of negative trends or errors and their
correction.
- 4 -
This is a process already begun in Cuba, before the
reforms of the USSR and Eastern Europe.
Cuba is not copying the changes in the East; the
situation of Cuba is essentially different from the
East European nations in both the history and in the
course of the revolution.
In the course of the revolution, some elements were
wrongly copied from Eastern Europe; these are the
things that need rectification now.
The situation of the Church shows the difference from
Eastern Europe, in that Cuba never severed ties with
the Holy See and permitted the Church to function. Some
mistakes were made in copying Eastern Europe in
repressing the Church. These must be corrected, and
Castro was the first to point out the necessity of a
new approach to religion.
Cuba has been and is threatened by the U.S. and must
defend itself with the only means at hand: political
and social unity.
The process of change is meant to strengthen the
revolution. It is not a rejection of marxism, not an
embrace of individualism, nor of a market or capitalist
economy.
Castro would be interested in talks with the U.S. but
believes that, with the crumbling of Eastern Europe,
the U.S. is not interested in talks, but in awaiting
the fall of Cuba. His first task must be, then, to
assure the survival of Cuba.
The social changes spoken of by Cardinal Law can be
part of the process of change entered into by Cuba;
they can not be, however, conditions imposed by the
U.S. on Cuba.
Independence is a supreme value for Cuban society and
for the Cuban government.
General situation of Cuba today:
There is an evident sense of tension and desire for change.
There is concern among the Bishops that change be brought
about peacefully.
- 5 -
The Cuba Government have used the events of Panama and the
affair concerning the Cuban boat in the Gulf of Mexico to
try and forge a siege mentality, thereby galvanizing
control over the country.
Church officials and others are agreed that the U.S.
unwittingly plays into Castro's hand in giving him
material to point to as signs of American aggressiveness and
intent on intervention.
Americans are well-accepted by Cubans, but American
intervention in Cuba would be resented and opposed.
Whatever assistance can be given to the Church in Cuba by
the Church in the United States can be of great importance
in this crucial time. One can not help but regret the
difficulties imposed by the U.S. which prevented, for
example, the pilgrimage which Cardinal Law wished to lead at
the Cuban Bishops' request, while other endeavors, such as
jazz concerts are given all the needed permissions. Some
change in American policy is clearly needed here.
The U.S. might well consider a change in its public stance
in Cuba's regard to remove the advantage which Castro is
taking in portraying the U.S. as a potential enemy. Without
the fear of an alleged external threat, social change may be
strengthened.
Castro expressed to the Cardinal his willingness to meet
President Bush to discuss elements for the betterment of
relations between the two countries.
The Bishops have begun to exhibit greater confidence in
dealing with the government and the public.
Significance of the Visit:
The visit, coming at a crucial time, served to forge a
closer working relationship between the Bishops of Cuba
and the Cardinal and, by extension, with the U.S. Bishops'
Conference.
The visit made possible a session exceeding three hours of
informal contact of the Bishops of Cuba and President
Castro. This was an important recognition of the Bishops
by Castro, and a significant experience for the Bishops to
enter a direct, give-and-take conversation with Castro, as
they did.
- 6 -
The visit was covered in both Cuban T.V. news and on the
front page of the Party newspaper, Granma. Such has not
happened in the past, and seems to be part of a greater,
very recent willingness to portray religious news or persons
in the public media.
The visit was able to give the Bishops of Cuba a more
complete perspective on Castro's thoughts regarding the
process of change in Cuba in connection with the 4th Party
Congress, through Cardinal Law's conversation and through
the Meeting between Castro and the Bishops at the Nunciature.
The visit was able to furnish Cardinal Law a nuanced
understanding of the position of the Cuban Bishops
regarding the future of Cuban society, and the need for
peaceful change.
-6-
MEETING WITH CASTRO:
The Cardinal was invited to the Palace of the Revolution to meet
with President Castro at 5:00pm. By 5:15 the party was in
Castro's office for discussion. Present were: President
Castro, Dr. Jose M. Miyar Barrueco, Dr. Carneado, translator;
Cardinal Law, Bishop Gonzalez, Msgrs Murphy and Moran. At
Archbishop Ortega's suggestion, there was no request from
Cardinal Law that Ortega be invited to attend, as was done last
year for the March 1, 1989 meeting. the Cardinal brought a
leather paper binder for Dr. Carneado and a Chelsea Clock for
President Castro.
The conversation ran as follows:
Law: His is a visit to the Church in Cuba
Meant to continue and improve contacts between the Church
in Cuba and in the United States.
This is a significant and important moment in history.
Church interest in the good of the human person
the common good of society,
and the further development of peoples, and Cuba.
Castro:
The note which was published following the announcement of
the date of the next party Congress was intentionally
complete.
The agenda there announced is not something new.
Before the Soviet Union began to embark on reforms,
Cuba already spoke of rectification.
This is an analysis of negative trends or
mistakes, and their correction.
This has been occurring in Cuba, but the
world has not noticed; Cuba is not
"important" to the wider world.
Now preparing conditions for the 4th
Congress which will take place next year.
This process has nothing to do with Eastern
Europe.
Cuba and Europe are two different
worlds.
Revolution in Cuba was not "imported"
nor is it "exported".
Cuban Revolution is closely linked to
the people.
Cuban Rev. has avoided many of the
mistakes of other countries.
-no forced collectivization of
all land
-7-
-private farms still exist; do
not need to be "re-invented".
-cooperatives exist
-the excesses of Stalinism not
known.
Fortunately, there has been a great
deal of national creativity in the
Cuban Revolution, avoiding mistakes
which would otherwise need correction.
In some matters, Cuba incorrectly copied
from other nations; these matters are what
need correction.
The process of change is not a move towards
a "private market" or towards capitalism nor
towards "private economy".
The process will be an improvement in political
mechanisms.
The kind of elections already present in
Cuba are not as were in Eastern Europe.
In Cuba, the people already nominate
the candidates.
In Cuba, there can be multiple
candidates.
It will be good to develop the
election processes further.
There is need for improvement in the
economic sphere .
There is need for improvement in the
political sphere.
This is not a move towards "individualism"
but inspired by human solidarity.
In the past, there had been some imitation of
Eastern Europe.
moral values were forgotten
it was thought that social problems could be
solved through the infusion of money and
programs.
In these years, now we see the importance of moral
concerns and of incentives.
Candidly, the process of change is meant to
strengthen the Revolution.
The country must be prepared to resist any
test which will come
resist economic challenge from
Eastern Europe
resist political and military menace
from the U.S.
In Cuba, these matters are clearly
understood; elsewhere they are not
understood.
-8-
The process will be a return to the the
roots, to history, to the sources of the
Cuban Revolution.
It does not signify the abandonment of
marxism as a political objective.
Along with Marti, the national objective, as
well as that of Latin America remains total
full independence. Cuba will be no one's
satellite; The objective is more
independence (we have been independent).
As regards the Church
Cuba different from Eastern Europe.
Ties to the Holy See were never
severed.
The approach here has been different;
the relation with the Church has been
different.
There was a period in which Cuba was
influenced by Eastern Europe as regards the
Church, even if Cuba remained more advanced
than Europe on this point.
Castro was the first to appeal for a
different approach towards the Church.
This is the importance of his book.
The book has been published
throughout the world, even in China
and India.
All in all, the process of change is not to give up
socialism, nor the Revolution, but rather to
perfect it,
This is what is best for Cuba
This is the only road for Cuba
Everything must be done to secure the
defense of Cuba.
All fields of social life will be touched by this
process, but do not expect to see what happened in
Eastern Europe repeated in Cuba.
LAW:
You know of my interest and solidarity with the society in
Cuba.
What is important to the Church is not the type of
economy, but the question of development.
Allow me to play the "Devil's Advocate":
The Bishops of Cuba are true "Cubans".
They place a great value on the independence
of their country.
What is needed is a greater sense of the
"interdependence" of peoples, of human solidarity.
We need to develop an attitude of solidarity
-9-
which is big enough for a variety of systems.
Each system, however, must be based on the
good of the human person.
There are certain "values" which must be realized
universally.
Human rights is one such value, and must be
present in the U.S., in Cuba, and in the
USSR.
The Church has a responsibility, in whatever
country, to speak about these values.
The Church seeks for a solidarity of the
whole world to develop a freer and more just
society.
This is not a process of confrontation but
of dialogue.
It is aimed at the betterment of everyone.
I speak as an idealist, but this is important at
this time in history.
You speak of the importance of a return to
Cuba's roots.
One such root of the Cuban people is their
faith.
The faith is central to Cuba's future
development: its needs further
development.
Now please let me speak to you as a Pastor.
I hope that in your heart of hearts that you not
think of Cuba in isolation from Latin America,
Europe or the U.S.
You need to find the path to interdependence
without losing independence, human rights or the
good of the people.
These are generalizations, but at this
moment in history they are so important.
From my heart I can say the Danger you face is not
from outside; internal matters are so important
and must be addressed.
This must be done in Cuban style.
this does not entail rupture, but
development.
However, here as elsewhere, things can run
in the face of all if change is not brought
about.
I can see that things are changing.
It is important not to loose the gains of
the past years.
Here, the devastation of misery is
not present as it is in some other
countries.
basic health services are available
to all
-10-
great accomplishments in universal
literacy have been made.
However, in education, for example, more is
needed than teaching people how to read and
write.
If there are no moral values, then
one looses everything.
I believe that the Church has a right
to function in the educational
sphere, which she is not permitted to
do here.
However, it is important that at
least in public education there not
be a campaign against religion.
I can see certain improvements in the relation of
the Government with the Church
Saturday, I spoke with President Bush.
During the recent Summit Meeting on
the Drug Problem, he spoke to the
other Presidents about Cuba.
Specifically he mention that he had
heard of a certain improvement in
relations between the Government and
the Church. The President of
Colombia responded that this does not
appear to be the case. The other two
were silent.
Perhaps their response can be
explained from the fact that in
Colombia and elsewhere, the Church
exercises a prophetic role, even one
which entails criticism. If
something is not serving the human
person, it is the responsibility of
the Church to speak out.
This does not mean that the
Church is against the society,
but rather is for its
improvement.
An example would be the
criticism of the Church against
permissive abortion laws in the
U.S.
Here in Cuba the Church should have the possibility
of access to the public media and be free to
express her prophetic and critical role.
In fact, Cuba is very important for Latin America as well
as for the United States.
What is needed is greater openness, with security.
-11-
CASTRO
You speak in a very idealistic sense
I can not disagree about what you say regarding the
relationships which should be between countries
Can not disagree with what you say about the
importance of promoting the well-being of the human
person.
However, reality is not the same.
For thirty years Cuba has had no security, but
lives under the threat of U.S. hostility and power.
Interdependence is true, and should be so for this
hemisphere and the world
The reality of Latin America, and of the
underdeveloped countries of the world is not
one of interdependence, but of dependence.
Such countries feel insecure and threatened,
and for good reason. And these causes for
their feelings are not particularly
Christian.
I know of your sincerity in saying these things;
you are not a politician
I am not a bishop but a politician
I must deal with real and difficult problems
We have faced many dangers for many years
We have striven to maintain our independence.
An example is the U.S. infringement
on our independence through radio and
now through television.
U.S. t.v. shows drugs, sex and
violence, commercialism.
Cuban t.v. is not perfect, but in
some ways healthier than U.S. t.v.
The only way to peace, the only means of defense available
to us is our unity.
unity of the people,
patriotism,
sacrifice,
cohesion,
heroism.
LAW:
The U.S. needs to develop a more consistent policy for
this hemisphere to promote fraternity and mutual respect.
For many years now, the U.S. has been in need of a better
approach
The gulf which separates nations must be bridged.
An example of the reality of interdependence and
the need to work together for solutions is the
growing external debt of the U.S.
-12-
CASTRO:
What can the Church do to reduce tensions between the two
countries
LAW:
It takes two to tango; the Bishops can provide the music.
It is necessary to try to find the way to interdependence,
without losing the gains of the past.
CASTRO:
The situation of Europe has complicated matters
Before, the U.S. was willing to talk
an example were the accords on South Africa
Now that Eastern Europe has crumbled, the U.S. has
changed its attitude.
from a realistic readiness for dialogue, now
the U.S. has decided that Cuba can not long
resist. The U.S. just waits.
There is no willingness to talk seriously.
Now the premise must be to show that Cuba will survive.
I knew of the weaknesses inherent in Eastern
European countries
There was a distance between the party and
the people.
Here is the source of the difficulty
I knew these things and even publicly talked
about them
T.V. made matters worse for them
I am not a bishop
Here you will see a reflourishing of the patriotic spirit
I anyone thinks that Cuba will crumble, they are quite
wrong.
LAW:
I asked President Bush Saturday if he had any hope for
change. He said that he did.
There are, then, two Presidents who hope for change: this
is the first step.
This is very important for Cuba.
What is most important for Cuba, both internally and
externally, is the development of Cuban society.
Here the Church can be of help.
There must be space allowed for those who love
their country but speak about the conditions of
human rights, for example.
In these things, what must be kept in mind is their
intrinsic value for the people of the country.
-13-
CASTRO:
Such things can come as a consequence, if there is a
change in the atmosphere.
These things can not be in the form of an imposition of
conditions by the U.S.; that can not be accepted.
LAW:
I am not speaking of a change of government nor of a
system; but I speak of the realization of certain values
for their intrinsic worth.
CASTRO:
The U.S. administration is willing to make notable
concessions to the government of China as regards the
record of human rights, etc, because China is large and
important; Cuba is small and unimportant to the U.S.
LAW:
If the U.S. can have relationships with China, why not
with Cuba? Be Cuba big or small, what is needed is not
paranoia, but a willingness to follow a path towards more
freedom and development.
The Cardinal then asked whether Castro would be willing to
have a meeting with President Bush. Castro indicated his
willingness, but with an air that he did not think such a
thing would happen.
The conversation then changed tone towards a more informal
exchange of comments on particular matters.
There are many examples of how the Church can be of help
in building mutual understanding and cooperation.
Eg. After the Mexican earthquake, the Archdiocese
of Boston sent $800,000/- to help build houses;
the Church projects were the first to complete new
units. This helped the Church in Mexico attain
the possibility to be involved in public social
works.
CASTRO:
Cuba sent money for schools, without much publicity.
Expressed surprise at the amounts of Church aid to Mexico,
and wondered whether we would respond to a hurricane
disaster in Cuba.
Asked if Law had any recent news of Nicaragua.
Both thought that the Sandinistas would win.
-14-
Asked if Cardinal Etchegaray was in Panama during the
invasion.
He mentioned that Cuba was in contact with Archbishop
Laboa during the crisis. He had met him previously.
Noticed a list of names among Cardinal Law's papers and
inquired what it might be.
LAW:
Presented list of 15 new prisoners to see if they might be
released
Presented names of three Cubans in jail for attempting to
leave without permission.
CASTRO:
Complained that the U.S. authorities allow those who
escape from Cuba to stay, even though they enter the U.S.
without visas. This tempts many to try to leave illegally.
The following topics were mentioned in brief comments:
China Castro inquired about the state of the Church in
China; how many Catholics there were etc.
Vietnam
Hong Kong
The problem of the refugees and the British
desire to send them back to Vietnam.
Hunger strikes in Spain
Castro asked what the Church's view was concerning
those who died of hunger strikes, or of forced
feeding by prison authorities.
Suicide
Castro thought that the socialist duty would be to
persevere in life and to struggle to correct the
wrongs.
Extraordinary means of preserving life.
Castro asked what the Church's position was
concerning the removal of extraordinary means.
Capital Punishment
Castro inquired about the Church teaching in this
regard.
It was said that States do in certain cases have
the right to take the life of a guilty person, but
in practice, because of the injustice involved and
because of the promotion of the value of life, the
Church intervenes against the execution of
prisoners.
Castro noted that world opinion was growing against
capital punishment.
-15-
At the end of the meeting, Castro indicated he might not be able
to come in the evening, since there was so much to do in
preparation for a meeting he had in the morning. Cardinal Law
pointed out the importance of his presence. Castro agreed to
come for dessert.
MONDAY EVENING, NUNCIATURE
The Cardinal returned to the Nunciature, where he met the
Cuban Bishops, Msgr. de Cespedes and Archbishop Sainz.
The Cardinal reveiwed in general the course of his meeting
with Castro.
The official guests for the dinner began to arrive,
including the Vice-President Carlos Rodriguez, a member of
the Council, and Dr. Carneado.
President Castro arrived at 9:40, for dessert.
The first period of conversation was dominated by the
Nuncio, and centered on non-issue matters.
During the dinner, Cardinal Law mentioned the matter of
visas for the priests of the Saint James Society. Castro
responded that there might be some difficulties; it was
perhaps, not the right time for North American Priests to
be introduced in the country. the Bishop responded that
the priests were much needed and would be very welcome.
Castro changed his resistance to the idea, and said that
it could be done, Dr. Carneado was to see to the details.
The Vice-President and the member of the Council did not
enter the conversation, and did not seem pleased that
Castro seemed to change his mind in response to the
Bishops' protests.
Archbishop Ortega had an opportunity to speak directly
with Castro about the proposed letter of the Bishops to
Castro criticising the current state of the country.
Castro did not appear to be very pleased, but indicated
that Ortega could proceed with the correspondence.
Castro remained until after midnight.
The occasion was significant as the first informal
encounter between Castro and the Bishops, and was
important for the Bishops to have the experience of the
give and take of the conversation as it developed.
REPORT: VISIT TO HAITI
MARCH 7-8, 1990
1
Invited by the Nuncio, Archbishop Paolo Romeo, Magr.
William Murphy of Cardinal Law's staff went to Haiti to discuss
the current situation of that country with the Nuncio and other
persons. Prior to his departure, Msgr. Murphy had been
contacted by Mr. Robert Holly of the U.S. State Department and
received a FAX from Mr. Peter Johnson of the Carribean/Central
America Action group. Both were expressing their concern about
the situation.
2.
Msgr. Murphy, with the Nuncio, met successively with:
1. Mr. Alexander of the U.S Carribean Initiative with Mr. Jeff
Gallagher of the U.S Embassy in Haiti; 2. the Canadian
Ambassador; 3. the two auxiliary bishops of Port au Prince,
Msgrs. Kebrou and Lafontant; 4. The U.S., Canadian, French and
German Ambassadors at Ambassador Adams' residence; 5. Msgr.
Kebrou with Fr. Constant, the bishops' conference secretary for
education; 6. Msgrs. Kebrou and Lafontant with a side visit to a
house of formation for future priests; 7. finally Msgr. Murphy
and the Nuncio reviewed together the previous twenty four hours
prior to lunch and the trip to airport for the return to Boston.
3.
The situation is tense. Everyone is aware that change
is in the air. All are agreed that Avril must go. In meetings
with the Nuncio and later with the U.S. Ambassador on Wednesday,
Avril indicated that he knows that the end is at hand. He is
maneuvering for time and for the best arrangement he can get.
4.
What to do? This question was posed by Mr. Adams
Wednesday night. Opinions vary from opting for immediate action
to preferring some sort of delay even up to several months in
order the better to organize the transition.
The latter position is that of the French Ambassador
who seems concerned to make space and give time to the parties
(particularly the socialist and communist parties) to deal with
the current crisis. The former opinion, immediate action, is
that of the American Ambassador and is shared with some
modification or nuance by everyone else including the Nuncio.
5.
There is a consensus that Avril must go as soon as
possible. There is consensus that placing another military man,
such as General Abraham, in power will not work and will be
considered inappropriate inside and outside the country. There
is consensus that elections for President should be held as soon
as possible : 90 days after Avril leaves according to the
constitution. There is consensus that everything necessary must
be done to avoid violence and social unrest among the people
-2-
right through the time of the elections. There is also
consensus that U.N. and O.A.S. personnel can and should be
called in to supervise elections. Mr. Perez de Cuellar has
already accepted to do this. Such personnel must also aid the
C.E.P. (Provisionary Electoral Committee) in this process
because the CEP is weak in itself. There is also consensus that
assistance must be given (1) to the interim government in order
to maintain calm and to keep the economy on an even keel and
then (2) to the new president in a substantial way in order to
get specific projects moving and the future of the country in a
good direction. There is also consensus that the political
parties are to be invited to take part in the elctoral process
but that they then are expected to support the results.
6.
Some suggestions to help achieve a peaceful and
positive resolution of the currenbt crisis.
6.1. Avril need not be given an ultimatum but rather a
choice: to leave now or to remain as a figurehead for three
months until elections. The conditions for his remaining for
three months until elections would be that he renounce his role
as head of the army and that he renounce all power over the
government by naming a prime minister who would actually govern
for three months until the elections. He thus becomes merely a
figurehead. It is unlikely that he would accept the second.
However failure to accept one or the other option would leave
him, his family and his possessions outside Haiti, in an
uncertain state.
6.2. It would be wise to keep as close to the terms of
the constitution as possible. The proposal for a year long
interim "to prepare for elections" would be disastrous, creating
chaos while claiming to be developing political roles. That
proposal from the "Group of 11" should be rejected. They also
propose a "Conseil d'Etat" whose role vis a vis the interim
president would seem to be contestatory and thus harmful. Those
proposals that would have included Catholic priests as part of
this are also to be rejected.
Instead, Avril should "finish his mandate" and offer
his resignation immediately according to the norms of the
constitution. With his resignation, power goes to the Cour de
Cassation, the Supreme Court, whose ranking Judge, beginning
with the Chief Juistice, becomes interim Head of State until
elections can be held within 90 days. He/she will enpower the
CEP to prepare elections with the help of the U.N. and O.A.S.
personnel as well as with any new members of the CEP as may be
needed. To assist him/her in those three months there need be
only four competent ministers: Foreign Affairs, Justice,
Interior and Finance. There are qualified persons ready to take
those posts and Ambassador Adams knows who to consult on
these.. The other ministries can continue along for the next
three months. Regarding the Supreme Court justices, some like
-3-
Abp. Gayot, President of the Bishops' Conference, are in favor
of Chief Justice Ostend (sp?) and believe he could do a good job
as an essentially independent person. Some have proposed a
woman justice, Mme. Triault (sp?) while others wonder about the
wisdom of having a woman head of state in a country so
influenced by African culture.
6.3. It is imperative to maintain social calm in this
period. Crucial to this are the prices of basic commodities,
sugar, wheat or flour, gasoline or oil, cement. If these are
subject to inflation, then the people will most likely react.
Assistance will be needed to keep prices steady. The cost for
this type of assistance for the three month period is estimated
at $15 million. It is said that ESF and HP 480 funds are
available for this assistance. Care should be taken how this
money is distributed. If the matter is left simply to the free
market, it is likely that the money will disappear and prices
may well go up because of speculators who may look for a quick
return. The fact is that the government needs cash. Therefore
the assistance funds might better go to the government to buy
the commodities that they then could sell at a guaranteed
price. This would stabilize the price, give the government a
role to play and allow the government to regain money, even
making a slight profit because of the parallel market. Most
important, however, is this maintenance of calm through the
maintenance of prices.
6.4. The political parties must cooperate with the
interim government and with the CEP in the electoral process.
In addition to U.N. and O.A.S. personnel, it would be good to
consider having observers for the elections. The parties must
pledge to abide by the elections and support the winner as the
legitimate. Needless to add, a better way of preparing,
distributing and counting the ballots must be devised.
6.5. General Abraham has told Amb. Adams that he does
not want the army to be involved again in politics. The army,
according to him, has become traumatized by all the politics of
the last four years. The army must be helped to play an
ancillary role in society. Scholarships for officers to U.S.
military schools have already been requested. A gradual
restructuring of the army with certain incentives and a
separation of the army from the civil police are in order.
6.6. The Church is ready to play its proper role. It
must be the conscience of the nation and of the people. It will
work to help maintain calm among the people. It can and will
propose the ideals and the principles for the good of the
society. It will also urge the people to take part in the
political process. The Nuncio is ready to assist in this
action. The Nuncio and the American Ambassador maintain close
relations. If questions arise about the participation of the
Church or Church agencies in particular programs, they should
best be resolved by the Ambassador, the Nuncio and the bishops
-4-
themselves rather than by technical assistants or regional
directors of projects. The bishops are always ready with
information to help people understand the proper role of persons
and groups in the Church. One factor is that Church personnel
are expected to act always according to Church law. In all this
the historic role of Catholic bishops in a predominantly
Catholic country should be noted.
6.7. After the elections, the new President must be
helped and strengthened to be able to serve a full term with as
much productivity as possible. This will be the true test for
the future of Haiti. C/CA A has already indicated that private
investment is ready to enter the country. Free enterprise will
do well for many reasons which need not be listed here. In the
meantime, however, the country will need about $150 million
worth of long range assistance above the $15 million for the
interim period. The criterion should be "both more money and
more controls". Moneys should be for specific concrete projects
that are measureable both by the investor and by the people.
Seed money given for vague purposes, like "to encourage free
enterprise", actually encourage only profiteering. City Bank
and Bank of Boston are the two major U.S. banks in Haiti. They
should become involved in this effort. The key must be
accountability for visible projects that truly build the local
economy and make it productive and competitive.
7.
Conclusion. In recent times, whenever a Haitian leader
has had to give up power, it has been a Friday night when the
change comes and the person in question leaves the country.
This report is not based on that. Neither is this a blueprint
for the future of the country. It addresses only the present
crisis. Ambassador Adams is acting well for U.S. The Nuncio
acts well for the Church. It is fortunate that they also work
well together. The Church has good local leadership, especially
with the President, Abp. Gayot of Cap Haitien and the two
auxiliary bishops of Port au Prince, Msgrs. Kebrou and Lafontant.
While the immediate challenge is to change Avril, the
future of the country depends in great measure on the kind of
stability guaranteed by social institutions that are marked by
honesty and by a concern to involve the citizens according to
their abilities. That those skills and abilities need to grow
and be developed is beyond question. This will demand time,
understanding, pateince and the investment of personnel and
resources to revers thirty and more years of mismanagement.
It is crucial to have free and fair elections as soon
as possible. It is equally crucial that a new president be able
to execute his Office and complete a full term of office. To
that end the U.S. government has a number of roles to play and
contributions to make. The Catholic Church, including the
Church in the U.S. will also have to take up its own proper
responsibility. In the end, however, a people with a rich
culture must be given the opportunity to build on that culture
by sound economic and social programs that will prepare Haiti
for the next century.