• Submitted by: lena campos
• Events
• 03 / 24 / 2013

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The 7th World Spiritist Congress, attended by 1,000 participants from 24 countries, is to end today in Cuba, the Hispanic-American country with the highest number of spiritist associations.

Issues like spiritual education and charity in the construction of a world of peace; mental health and spiritism; neurophysiology of the mediums, philosophy and spiritist education, among others, have been discussed in the meeting at the Havana-based Lazaro Pena Theater.

Yestersday, the congress paid tribute to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and said that "his spirit is with us."

Participants also demanded the release of five anti-terrorist Cuban fighters unfairly given harsh prison sentences in United States.

Olga Salanueva, the wife of Rene Gonzalez, urged the international spiritist movement to put pressure on US authorities so that they allow Rene, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando Gonzalez, also known as The Cuban Five, return home to their families.

Cesar Perri, recently elected President of the Spiritist Association of Brazil, the world's largest, told Prensa Latina that the release of these Cuban heroes is a cause they accompany with their prayers.

"The US blockade against Cuba also worries us, as Cuba is a country we know and love, where the full exercise of religious freedom is one of the reasons why we are holding this congress in Havana," he said.

Perri appreciated the facilities given to hold the international forum in Cuba, "whose government has recognized the social work of the spiritist movement."

He noted that Cuba boasts 574 renowned spiritist centers and others under legalization. "We would like to stress the support of the Cuban government and Communist Party to hold this congress," he said.

Source: Prensa Latina