Christianity in Cuba

[3] The largest Protestant denominations were Pentecostal and Baptist, but also included Methodists,[4] Presbyterians, Anglicans, Anabaptists and Quakers.

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.

[7] Pope Leo X (r. 1513-1521) established the Diocese of Baracoa, which included "all of Cuba" and the Spanish possessions of Louisiana and Florida.

In 1689, the College of San Ambrosio was founded in Havana for the purpose of preparing young men for the priesthood.

The Catholic Church's golden age in Cuba began with the tenure of Bishop Diego Evelino Hurtado de Compostela along with the first diocesan synod of 1680.

[8] The powerful influence in culture and politics, increase of native clergy, along with the multiplication of church building and seminaries marked the golden age.

[13] 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.

By the mid-1800s, the majority of Cubans had become more indifferent toward religion, while Spanish domination of the island was steadily gaining support from the Catholic clergy.

Later in 1883, Diaz established an independent Protestant church in La Havana, which became Iglesia Bautista Getsemaní in 1886 after Diaz became an ordained Baptist minister in 1885 under the Reverend William F. Wood of Key West, Florida, and became affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

[19] Religious tolerance until 1886 existed only for foreigners until the Episcopal minister Pedro Duarte went directly to the Spanish Crown citing injustices done to him by local authorities.

[21] The foreign presence after Spain contributed to this change: In 1898 North American intervention brought full religious lawful equality to Cuba.

[22] In 2023 Cuba has been ranked as the 27th most dangerous country to be a Christian,[23] and it was noted that leaders and members of several religious groups have been persecuted, arrested, interrogated and forced into exile.