Cardinal Bertone calls U.S. embargo of Cuba 'ethically unacceptable'

From Zenit: Benedict XVI's secretary of state has called the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba "ethically unacceptable." Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone reiterated Monday the opposition of the Holy See to the economic embargo against Cuba in a joint press conference with the country's Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque. "The Holy See repeats the words of Pope John Paul II: The embargo is ethically unacceptable," said the Vatican representative. "It is an oppression for the Cuban people and it is not a means to help the Cuban people win their dignity and independence. It's a violation of the independence of the people." | Read more...

Related:

• When John Paul II denounced the embargo during his 1998 trip to Cuba, Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) remarked, "This is a landmark event. The Pope's approach is the exact opposite of the American Government's. The Pope is trying to engage the Cuban people. The U.S. policy is to isolate the Cuban people. The contrast is apparent."

Photo of Bertone with new Cuban President Raul Castro: Javier Galeano/AFP @ Yahoo! News