Pope Francis' pivotal role in the deal that renews ties between the United States and Cuba is a positive move for democracy and a blow to Communism, says Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
"The Vatican has been doing this for a very long time. We know what John Paul II did to bring down communism in Poland and eastern Europe, and ultimately, in the Soviet Union," Donohue said Friday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
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"The big losers in this are the communists in Cuba. You can't have people shuttling back and forth, which is what's going to happen with travel restrictions lifted … and not undermine the communists there.
"Why? Because people will bring their ideas with them, they'll share their stories. They'll tell about their lifestyle. Ultimately, the people will press for more rights."
Donohue said Cuba has already loosened its grip on religious liberty.
"Castro now just recently said to Catholics who live in Tampa, Florida, you're welcome to come in and build a Catholic Church," he said.
"So religious liberty and economic liberty are on the rise and, while they do not guarantee political liberty, they ultimately will work to undermine the forces of repression.
"The losers are the communists and that's why I'm very happy with it … I happen to hate everything Fidel Castro did to his own people beginning in 1959, but that's why today I look at this with a smile on my face because his side, his legacy is going to go down the tubes."
Donohue said once these Cubans "get their appetite whet" for more freedom, communism will buckle.
"It's not going to happen overnight, but this is going to happen eventually," he said.
Donohue predicts Pope Francis will now work to make inroads in China and other freedom-challenged countries.
"You've got a lot of problems in China, clearly with the Catholic Church not being free there. I don't know if anybody can help out the ruthless thugs who run North Korea," he said.
"He has spoken to the Muslim leaders and told them, you must speak out. The moderate Muslim's voice has to be heard. You can't sit back and watch these people behead Christians and then claim you have no responsibility."
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