WhatFinger


Part 2 A Knock at the door, A lesson for America

The attack on the Church



In retrospect of the past Jose' my father-in-law saw in 1962 what we have to worry about today. Jose' said "It's Everybody's Battle" --Ian Jay Germaine My first shocking personal experience with communism occurred of all places, at church. The Castro regime considered the Catholic Church to be its most dangerous enemy.

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Disorders were provoked in churches, and priests and sisters were insulted in the streets. Church leaders we defamed and spurious "priests" appeared on the sidewalks doing all kinds of immoral acts for the public to see. One morning, as I went with my family toward the Church, I saw a group of 20 men standing around the entrance. They were not dressed for church, nor did they show of the other courtesies that go with church attendance. They came noisily inside with the regular church-goers and distributed themselves here and there among the congregation. The priest was a young man. As soon as he began to speak, these hoodlums began to shout at him. They abused the priest, the church, the congregation and the United States. They said thing I not dare to repeat. Such a disorder had never been heard in the church. We were astounded. Hearing the confusion, an older priest who was in the building entered the room and lectured the hoodlums. They had come what they came to do, so they willingly departed. But when the rest of us left the church a little while later, we saw the same hoodlums standing on the corner waiting. They began shouting insults. A young man and his wife came out of the church, and one of the hoodlums ran up to them and cried: "Church is not for a man! Church is for women. Church is for worms!" When I got into my car with my family, one of the men ran up and shouted: "Listen, worm, you won't have that car very long!" He was right about that, as you will eventually see. Attacks on the church, and violence in and near churches, became quite common. Following such demonstrations, the Castro-controlled press would print a news story. It would accuse the priest and church of creating a public disturbance. The time came when the Communist confiscated the properties of the church and suppressed it's main source of income, the private school. This was coupled with the persecution, abuse, and imprisonment of religious followers. Most of the priest, sisters and members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy were deported. In our particular church, the Castro regime threw out the priest. Then one day we were deeply shocked to discover that the church building had been turned into a money-exchange center, a place where newly printed money was traded for old currency. How did the Communist get away with such things? By the use of shear force exerted through the militia which was composed of ordinary civilians, mainly workers and farmers. Picture an ignorant person who never succeed at school, who is incapable of making his own decisions, who has never felt important in his entire life, who is hunting for recognition, who suddenly has a chance to wear a uniform without apparently sacrificing any great measure of personal convenience. This is the type of man who was first to join Castro's militia. Such a man was Paul. Paul, a clerk, came home one day in the militia uniform with a revolver strapped to his side. His wife said, "I am surprised to see you wearing that Paul." He misunderstood her comment. "It was not difficult to get. I just signed my name." His face glowed with pride. "We do as we wish, there is no discipline, and now I enjoy certain privileges at my working place." But each day the organization became more rigid and the discipline more severe. When he was not working at his job, Paul was training with the militia. He had no time for anything else. He was instructed on arms and ammunition. His revolver was taken away, and they put in his hands instead, a machinegun. Then one day he came home with a stunned look on his face. At heart he was a very gentle and timid man. "When I reported to duty today," he told his wife in a whisper, "I found myself assigned to a firing squad." He stared. "I killed a man. He was our neighbor. They brought him in and stood him against the wall--a man who had never done harm to anyone. I helped kill him." Many who joined the militia thus found themselves suddenly in the role of murderers. They then realized they had made a mistake in joining, and then wanted out but were afraid to leave. They were then taken prisoner by their own fear and held in an organization to which they did not want to belong. Many in Cuba today are exactly in this position-- disillusioned but unable to escape. They wait and hope. (NEXT: Communism and the tomorrow that never comes) Column reprinted with permission of the Long Beach Press-Telegram


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Dr. José Antonio Serra -- Bio and Archives

Dr. Jose’ Antonio Serra was born in Havana, Cuba, May 22, 1919. Attending a Parochial School, La Salle Secundaria he continued and worked his way through the University of Havana for his Bachelors, Masters and PhD. while working full time for Westinghouse.

During his studies in accounting he managed to start a family and attain employment with Royal Dutch Shell of Cuba where he progressed to the position of Tesorero-(Treasurer) and continued working for his God-Family-Country & Company through the Communist Revolution. He continued with Shell Oil Company until retirement in 1989 at the age of 72.  Passing October 29, 2003 .  His massive “Change” coming to the U.S. gave him special insight to the present.

He was proud of his heritage and proud to be an American.


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