March 6 2000

ARTICLE TOOLS

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The entrance of the National Council of Churches (NCC) into the politically charged wrangle over Elián González has many evangelical leaders in Miami up in arms. Fifteen pastors issued a strong statement separating themselves and their churches from the NCC's action.Misael Castillo, pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church in Miami, criticized Joan Brown Campbell, the former NCC General Secretary who has been at the forefront of the council's diplomatic activity."We are very bothered by this woman who has wanted to represent the [Protestant] church without the agreement of its members," Castillo says.Castillo also serves as secretary of the Greater Miami Hispanic Pastors Association, which includes non-Cuban pastors."Our parishioners are asking: 'Where are the evangelical, Protestant pastors [in Miami] when she says she is speaking for all Protestants?' We believe that sending Elián back to Cuba is sending him back to no future," Castillo says.

Elián, 6, was found clinging to an inner tube off the Florida coast on Thanksgiving Day following an ill-fated escape from Cuba that left his mother, his stepfather, and nine other Cubans dead. Since then, he has been cared for by family members who have taken legal action to prevent his return to Cuba.Since Elián's rescue, his Cuban father has pleaded for the boy's return to Cuba. The Immigration and Naturalization Service ruled in January that the boy should be returned to his father, a move that sparked tumultuous street demonstrations in Miami. A Florida court granted temporary custody to the boy's great-uncle in Miami pending a full court hearing. Meanwhile, the Congress is considering bills to grant Elián citizenship.

While tensions simmered in ...