Politics and Civil Society in Cuba

Cuban Freemasons in the Development of Civil Society and of a Political Opening 181

Discussion

Helping to strengthen and expand Cuban civil society can be accom-

plished by helping to strengthen religious, artistic, and fraternal, inde-

pendent organizations, so that they can participate more actively in

the everyday life of the country. But, to enhance further their partici-

pation, these organizations require a broader space, and additional

resources.

For example, CF could contribute more within civil society if the

Cuban government would reduce or eliminate the remaining restric-

tions it has imposed to Cuban Lodges, which we have discussed in the

second section. In addition, many Lodges are old and deteriorated,

and need urgent repair. The government could sell materials and fur-

niture, and provide facilities, so Lodge buildings can be restored, just

as the government does with catholic churches. For, just like these,

some Masonic Lodges have historical value.

The government could also facilitate CF a greater access to the

Internet and other media, so that individual Lodges and the Grand

Lodge can create magazines and blogs, just like other churches and

religious organizations currently do, and Lodge members can access

them. The Grand Lodge has intermittently maintained a Web Page,

whose cost weights heavily, as the maintenance has to be paid in

CUCs (Cuban Convertible Currency). A Cuban Masonic Listserve

that operated in 2008, in which this researcher participated, disap-

peared for lack of support. La Colmena Blog (http://www.desde-

cuba.com/mason/) to which we also contribute, operates from inside

the island. It confronts technical problems, and is not easy to access

by CF inside the island.

The Cuban authorities could allow CF and their Lodges to acquire

computers and support equipment (modems, printers, USBs, etc.) in

CUPs (Cuban Pesos). Alternatively, the authorities could allow CF in

the Diaspora, and other Grand Lodges abroad, to donate equipment

to Lodges inside the island. Such donations are currently received by