To:  Gregory F. Lucey S.J. , President
Spring Hil College,  Mobile, Alabama

C: Dr. Charmane P. May, Executive Vice President, President’s Office
Mrs. Sharon K. Williams, Coordinator of Conference Services, President’s Office

Rev. Christopher Viscardi S.J., Division Chair of Philosophy and Theology

Dear Father Lucey,

We understand that Spring Hill College will host an event this Saturday, June 11^th to “explore the human dimensions of U.S. Cuba relations.”  We salute your fine institution’s interest in the discussion of topics of global impact as part of the social commitment of your faith-based community. This is all possible thanks to our free, pluralistic, and democratic society. But, we are dismayed that this academic gathering excludes key perspectives on Cuba’s socio-political reality and U.S.-Cuba relations that have profound implications of a human, religious, and ethical nature.

Whereas panelists speaking on religion in Cuba and how politics impact the free exchange and expression of faith are part of the agenda, the program entirely fails to incorporate renown voices who’ve documented repression of religious and faith-based groups.  What’s more important, there are no representatives of religious and “human dimension” initiatives inside Cuba who are persistently persecuted by Cuba’s Communist government. 

While presentations are in order on topics such as human values and the family, the program lacks voices who can attest to the long-standing and continuing separation of Cuban families by the Castro regime and the historical quest for a rule of law, justice, and freedom as necessary steps to healing the Cuban nation and Cuba’s families.  Similarly, while one speaker will present on the moral underpinnings of engagement, there are no speakers representing the moral underpinnings of sanctions on totalitarian regimes.

Absent from the agenda are critical topics such as the Castro regime’s disregard for fundamental human rights and the devastating human effects of 46 years of oppression, as reported consistently by a continuing stream of people fleeing the regime as well as numerous independent international human rights organizations.  There are no featured speakers on the crimes committed against the Cuban people by the Castro government, including the documented assassination and execution of a number of religious leaders, including two Catholic sisters of Charity, several Protestant Ministers, and many Jehovas Witnesses.  

Lastly, we see no reference prisoners of conscience such as Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, a staunch defender of life who campaigned against the Cuban state’s practice of rivanol-induced abortions, where late term babies are delivered alive and killed after birth.

In sum, this program is a disservice to your guests and academic community as well as to the principles that your institution espouses of educating students “to become responsible leaders in service to others.” In addition, it is a sad dismissal of the sacrifice and suffering of all the victims -in Cuba and elsewhere- of the Castro regime, whose abuses continue to this day.  

Hoping this is an oversight on the part of its organizers, we trust that your institution will do the responsible thing and postpone the conference until it can be offered in a balanced and fair way or host a follow-up conference that addresses the issues we’ve outlined above.  We would be happy to provide materials, speaker suggestions, and any other help you may need to this effect.

Attached is a press release by our organization on firing squad executions in Cuba, as well as several summaries of our work documenting the cost in lives of the Castro regime, including the killings of minors, women, and U.S. citizens.

Thank you for your attention to this and, in advance, for your interest.