Christianity in Cuba - Catholicism in Cuba During The Colonial Period 1498-1898

Catholicism in Cuba During The Colonial Period 1498-1898

In 1512, Roman Catholicism came to Cuba with the Dominicans being the first Catholic priests and the Franciscans coming years later. The indigenous people were murdered as early as 1516: the bishop at the time Fray Bernardo de Mesa used lunar cycles and geographical situation as the reasoning for slavery of the Indians. Eventually the Indigenous Cubans were killed off with many Cubans being descendents of Spanish and African origin. Originally Catholicism catered to the Spanish because the Native Amerindians were killed as opposed to being converted. Pope Leo X (r. 1513-1521) established the Diocese of Baracoa, which included “all of Cuba” and the Spanish possessions of Louisiana and Florida. The name was changed to the Diocese of Santiago de Cuba in 1522.

Catholicism during this period was important because of the engagement in various aspects of life: baptisms, marriages, and funerals. The church fought the buccaneers and combated immorality. Authority of bishops during the colonial period compared to the highest civilian and military authority on the island; Schools and institutions of higher learning were created and administered by Church authorities.

Some of the bishops who were involved in education at this time were Bishop Geronimo Valdes (1705–29) and Bishop Pedro Argustin Morell de Santa Cruz (1753–68); the Royal and Pontifical University of San Jeronimo de la Habana was inaugurated during Valdes’ tenure in 1724. Throughout the Cuban island, the schools of San Ambrosio and San Francisco de Salles in Havana were established by the church from donations and an increase in church revenue. The Catholic Church was pivotal in establishing education as a central pillar of Cuban nationality:

During the early history of Cuba, the Catholic clergy seemed to have been the principal if not the only agents of education. In 1689, the College of San Ambrosio was founded in Havana for the purpose of preparing young men for the priesthood. As early as 1688, the city council of Havana petitioned the royal government to establish a university in that city, in order that young men desirous of pursuing higher studies might not be compelled to go to Europe to do so. After some years of preparation, the present University of Havana was founded in 1728. The rectors, vice rectors, counselors, and secretaries were all Dominicans.

Aside from education, the Catholic Church made other contributions throughout its early years in Cuba. Many historians consider the Golden Age – years 1750 to 1850 – to be of tremendous importance. This period was significant in one aspect because of the increase of clergy. The Catholic Church’s golden age in Cuba began with the tenure of Bishop Diego Evelino de Compostela along with the first diocesan synod of 1680. The powerful influence in culture and politics, increase of native clergy, along with the multiplication of church building and seminaries marked the golden age.

The diversity of the church characterized the golden years. Of the 90 churches in Cuba at this time, half of them were headed by Native Cuban priests. The Church was accepted in the urban centers because prior to this time the Spanish had used religion as a tool to influence the local Indians for the acquisition of wealth.