Cuba: Spanish priest killed

A 61 year-old Spanish diocesan priest, Father Eduardo de la Fuente Serrano, was killed on Saturday night in an area some 20km outside of the Cuban capital Havana. The news was reported by the local press and confirmed by a spokesman of the Cuban Catholic Church. Based on first reports, the body of the priest was found on the roadside near his car with stab wounds. Fr De la Fuente, parish priest of the Santa Clara d'Assisi Church of Havana, was defined by officials of the Spanish embassy in Cuba as "a man who helped the poor".

"This was an out of the ordinary and unusual event for the Church of Cuba" said Cardinal Jaime Ortega, in a statement on behalf of the San Cristóbal de La Habana archdiocese. "We express deep condolences to the family, friends and confreres of Father Eduardo", the message reads.

According to sources of the Spanish consulate, the priest was stabbed to death.

"We were informed that Fr. Eduardo's car was found in another area totally burned", adds the statement. According to Cuban police, the car of Fr Eduardo, who has been parish priest of the Santa Clara de Asís de Lawton Church in Havana, since October 2006 was found in the Bauta area, some 20km from the body.

"In this moment, we once again express our closeness and encouragement to all the missionaries from other nations that carry out their service for the Church and population of Cuba.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Source: MISNA