196 Chapter 8
Overall, the publication was aimed at stimulating citizen activism
around a change oriented agenda, although the latter was not clearly
defined. Rather than offering specific proposals, Vitral urged ordinary
Cubans to become more proactive. While the Castro government
regarded it as a dissident and partisan publication, its editorial board
believed that by providing space for diverse opinions they were being
non-partisan and were operating within the revolution. The officials
disagreed and in 2000 Fidel Castro publicly criticized Vitral for going
beyond legitimate criticism.
The attitude of Catholic Church officials towards Vitral varied,
reflecting a lack of consensus within the church concerning change
and how to accomplish it. Some supported what they felt was its chal-
lenging of the ideological hegemony of the government, while others
were uncomfortable with the content of the publication and regarded
it as causing problems for the Church. Others felt it played a useful
purpose in expanding the boundaries of the political space available
for debate. Subsequently, the editor, Dagoberto Valdes, and some of
the staff, established a new journal, Convivencia, which is independent
of the diocese of Pinar del Río. It provides a forum for Cubans to
voice their opinions of the government. In particular it has encour-
aged younger contributors, as well as focused on cultural issues,
including music. Its overall emphases are civil society, economics, his-
tory, ethics, politics, human rights, art, music, and literature. Its edito-
rial criteria state that “Controversies based on arguments will be
encouraged....”^16 Convivencia is an outlet for criticism of the govern-
ment and is widely regarded as identified with dissidents. Vitral has
continued to be published, but with a greater focus on spiritual and
ethical formation. Both have websites (www.vitral.org) and (www.
convivencia.org.es).
Among other Catholic publications, Imago, a quarterly, issued by the
diocese of Ciego de Ávila, focuses primarily on evangelizing Cuban
society and promoting human and Christian values in the cultural,
- Ibid., 18-24.
- http://convivenciacuba.es/content/view/16/43, 5/20/2010.