Churches eliminate barriers for the handicapped

José Aurelio Paz, HAVANA, Cuba, September 8, 2003

Cuban Evangelical Churches have begun to eliminate barriers that bar access for physically challenged people. Taxi Heathrow Airport

To a great extent this is due to efforts carried out by the Cuban Council of Church pastoral commission that focuses on people with physical and mental challenges. A few years ago, this commission began to combat architectural barriers and also mental barriers that impede full communion with the handicapped.

Despite the fact that the majority of Cuban Churches date back to the 1950s, when this factor was not taken into account, many have begun to make the necessary transformations to facilitate access for all people.

Last quarter, for example, the Cuban Council of Churches made important modifications aimed at eliminating possible obstacles.

Other institutions on the Island, built in recent years, such as the Episcopal Church of Cardenas Reflection and Dialogue Center, the Varadero Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Pentecostal Church of Camagüey, took these requirements into consideration when designing their buildings.

According to the CIC Board of Directors, all religious buildings that benefit from the project “Churches helping Churches,” aimed at strengthening Church infrastructure in Cuba, should include the elimination of barriers that could affect the handicapped in their proposals.

The Pastoral commission is also preparing an award that will be granted to those individuals or institutions that make it possible for both physical and mental barriers to be eliminated in order to achieve an inclusive Gospel as preached by Jesus, said the Rev. Noel Fernandez, responsible for this work in the CIC.

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