Mike Hammer, chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, has focused much of his agenda on religious matters, as reflected in the U.S. Embassy’s social media posts, which highlight his numerous visits to religious leaders and institutions on the island.
There is evidence of a deliberate attempt to manipulate the issue in the interest of his interventionist mission in Cuba’s internal affairs, while disregarding, for example, how the U.S. blockade directly impacts the religious communities he claims to support. His actions contrast sharply with the forceful positions of U.S. religious leadership, particularly the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other Christian organizations, which have repeatedly denounced the blockade and Cuba’s inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, advocating for their removal to benefit the Cuban people.
The Embassy’s posts show visits to Catholic bishops and priests in places such as Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara, Trinidad, and the Basilica of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre. These visits, which include meetings with figures like Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, Bishop of Guantánamo Mons. Silvano Pedroso, and Bishop of Santa Clara Marcelo Arturo González Amador, are intentionally presented as efforts to promote “religious freedom.” However, the frequent use of the hashtag #ReligiousFreedom implies religious persecution in Cuba that does not align with reality. Hammer has traveled the country without restrictions, participating in masses, dialogues, and visits to sacred sites without incident, contradicting any narrative of “repression and persecution.” His program aims to exploit religious sensitivity to portray Cuba as an oppressive state while positioning himself as a defender of faith.
Hammer’s approach appears particularly cynical when considering the impact of the economic blockade, in place for over six decades, which limits Cubans’ access to food, medicine, and other essential resources. This blockade has been repeatedly condemned by the U.S. religious sector, notably the USCCB, which has maintained a clear and consistent stance against this policy. In 2004, Mons. Wilton Gregory, then president of the USCCB, criticized the tightening of the embargo in a letter to President George W. Bush, arguing that “the full freedom of Cubans should not come at the expense of suffering caused by a harsher economic embargo or increased travel restrictions.” Gregory called the blockade “morally unacceptable and politically counterproductive,” advocating for greater contact between Americans and Cubans to foster dialogue and cooperation.
This position has remained steadfast in subsequent years. In July 2024, Bishop Elias Zaidan, chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Justice and Peace, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging Cuba’s removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Zaidan reiterated the USCCB’s stance, which, alongside the Holy See and the international community, has advocated for decades for collaboration and mutual benefit between the American and Cuban people. Zaidan’s letter recalled that when the Trump administration re-added Cuba to the list in 2021, the USCCB expressed its “strong disagreement,” noting that the designation lacks justification and exacerbates Cuba’s economic and social hardships. Zaidan emphasized: “I urge you, Mr. Secretary, to rescind Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and maximize our nation’s engagement for the good of the Cuban people.”
The USCCB is not alone in this stance. The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCCUSA) and the Council of Churches of Cuba issued a joint statement in 2019 lamenting the regression in bilateral relations after the progress made in 2014. Both institutions rejected new travel restrictions, the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, and limits on remittances, measures they claimed “hinder the quality of life for the Cuban people” and create “massive and unnecessary legal problems worldwide.” The religious organizations urged collaborative efforts to end the blockade, condemned by the vast majority of countries at the United Nations due to its extraterritorial nature and devastating impact.
The Episcopal Church of the United States has also spoken out against Washington’s policies. In an April 2019 statement, its Office of Government Relations expressed concern over the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, arguing that this measure would further deteriorate bilateral relations and negatively affect the Cuban people. These voices reflect a clear consensus: the blockade and Cuba’s inclusion on the terror list are unjust measures that contradict Christian values of solidarity, justice, and compassion.
The contrast between the U.S. religious sector’s stance and the chargé d’affaires’ actions becomes even more evident when examining his use of Pope Francis’ legacy. He has invoked the pontiff’s name at events such as a funeral mass at Havana Cathedral to honor Francis, presenting himself as a defender of the values the pope represents. However, he omits Francis’ crucial role in Cuba-U.S. relations. In 2014, the pope was a key mediator in restoring diplomatic ties, facilitating dialogue between Barack Obama and Raúl Castro. During his 2015 visit to Cuba, Francis called for “sowing reconciliation” and “building bridges,” promoting a “revolution of tenderness” that contrasts with Hammer’s confrontational approach.
Another revealing aspect is his omission of Yoruba associations, congregations, and other Afro-Cuban expressions, which are essential to Cuba’s spiritual fabric. These deeply rooted communities, central to Cuban culture, are absent from the Embassy’s posts. This exclusion suggests a selective interest, prioritizing the Catholic Church and certain Protestant denominations to seek allies that reinforce his narrative opposing the Cuban government.
Mike Hammer, far from being a genuine and exalted defender of religious freedom or human rights, uses religion as a tool and adopts a strategy of provocation that exploits faith for political ends, disregarding even the voices of U.S. religious leaders themselves on Cuba.
(Taken from Mi Cuba por Siempre)
