Cuban Freemasons in the Development of Civil Society and of a Political Opening 177
tion, due to the strong government restrictions on CF and their
lodges, as well as to the preference for the new political order and ide-
ology, by some CF; and (3) fewer affiliations of younger members, to
replace the natural deaths, due to the same issues described in (2)
above.
For example, in the sixties and seventies, when practically all the
economy was in state hands, citizens had to fill long forms which
asked their religious and fraternal affiliations. In turn, such affiliations
would determine which college careers could or could not be pursued,
what jobs could or could not be held, and how fast one could be pro-
moted. The Lodges had to report to the government the names of
those attending their meetings, what was discussed, by whom, etc.,
under severe fines and other strong penalties.
Then, in 1992, the IV Congress of the Cuban Communist Party
allowed both, party members and Cuban government officials, to join
religious and fraternal organizations. The resolution also sent a mes-
sage to the population at large, in the sense that it was no longer so
negatively perceived, to become a Mason. Finally, the loss of Soviet
subsidies triggered governmental economic reforms, allowing some
forms of private enterprise and international tourism. An opportunity
of independent employment suddenly appeared. As a result, the Insti-
tution started growing again, with this additional infusion of mem-
bers.
Below, we show the annual membership growth, under two indices.
First, using the growth index before the IV Congress (2.1%); then
after it (3%). The difference between the two is an estimation of new
membership from party, government officials, and formerly con-
cerned citizens. Such new membership represents about 8.3% in year
2000.
In the years 2000 to 2008, membership growth again slowed down.
Circa 2007, the distribution of members and lodges, by province, is
given below. Notice how the Western provinces (P. del Rio, Havana,
Havana Metro, Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Villaclara, in Yellow), with