The parish council of the Episcopal Church of San Francisco de Asís, in Cárdenas, Matanzas province, reported this Sunday a series of thefts against its temple and accused the Cuban authorities of not acting with the same diligence they display when crimes affect state institutions.
In a public letter signed by several members of the congregation and shared on social media, the church stated that it has experienced three thefts in the past year, with no concrete results from the reports made so far.
The first incident occurred about a year ago, when an electric tricycle used for pastoral and community work was stolen.
According to the parish council, the experts arrived at the scene 12 hours after the robbery and, despite a subsequent meeting with the municipal delegate of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), the case remains unresolved. "Even today we still have no response or solution," they noted.
Three months ago, the church suffered another theft when unknown individuals stole two solar lamps installed in the temple. On that occasion, the congregation decided not to file a complaint.
"It was an act of discouragement that should not exist in a rule of law," acknowledged the signatories, who attribute that decision to a lack of confidence that the authorities will investigate these events.
The most recent incident occurred this Saturday, when approximately 20 meters of wiring from the solar power system, essential for the parish's operations, were stolen.
The church explained that this power line allows for the supply of purified water to the community, the preparation of food for vulnerable individuals, and the continuation of religious activities.
“That cable is not a luxury,” emphasized the parish council, which filed a new police complaint that same day.
"They know who is responsible, but they do not act."
The letter states that the situation does not only affect that parish, but also other Episcopal churches in the province.
According to the document, St. Paul Episcopal Church in Bolondrón was robbed of a solar station on May 23. The signatories stated that the authorities themselves informed the pastor that they knew the identities of the alleged perpetrators, although they argued that they lacked sufficient evidence to apprehend them.
For the parish council, that explanation demonstrates "passivity, a lack of investigative will, and impunity."
They also mentioned a similar robbery that occurred on June 7 at the Episcopal Church of El Buen Pastor in Güira de Macurijes, which also remains unsolved.
The signatories reject the notion that these incidents are isolated cases. "We recognize them for what they are: an attack against this church and a way to undermine our religious freedom," they stated.
They demand equality under the law
In the letter, the congregation invokes Article 15 of the Cuban Constitution, which recognizes the freedom of religion, as well as Article 387.1 of the Penal Code, which penalizes acts aimed at disturbing the functioning of legally established religious institutions.
It also questions the different treatment that, in its opinion, these crimes receive compared to those committed against state entities.
“When robberies occur at government institutions or state entities, investigations are expedited, all resources are mobilized, and those responsible are identified in record time,” the document states.
Therefore, the church demanded that the authorities apply "the same investigative diligence" when the victims are religious communities or ordinary citizens.
A recurring problem
The complaint adds to other recent incidents that highlight the increase in the theft of equipment related to solar energy systems in Cuba. On July 19, the theft of solar lamps in a parish in Centro Habana was reported, and days earlier, theft of solar panels at the Maternal Home in Cárdenas had been reported.
Matanzas is a province particularly affected by crime. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory documented 503 offenses committed there in 2025, the highest number in the country.
In parallel, the organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) documented 667 violations of freedom of religion or belief in Cuba between January 2025 and June 2026.
In that context, the Episcopal Church of Cárdenas concluded its letter with a warning: "Religious freedom is not a privilege; it is a right enshrined in our Constitution and in the international instruments of which Cuba is a part."
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