Father Alberto Reyes: "Speaking the Truth Has a Cost in Cuba, but What Price Do We Pay for Silence?"
Cuban priest Alberto Reyes Pías shared the 179th edition of his weekly column "I've Been Thinking" this past Friday, offering a poignant reflection on the fear instilled by the regime over decades: the cost of speaking the truth versus the even greater cost of keeping silent.
"Speaking the truth comes at a price, but so does remaining silent. The difference is that the cost of truth can lead us to a new future. The cost of lies is the forfeiture of that future in exchange for a survival that remains miserable," wrote the pastor of the Esmeralda church in the Diocese of Camagüey.
Published on his Facebook profile, the text precisely outlines the control mechanism the regime has honed over generations. "For decades, we have learned to measure our words, to keep our thoughts to ourselves, to raise our hands in 'unanimity,' and to save the truth for family and friends, while nothing improves around us."
Reyes argues that no social reconstruction is feasible without first addressing reality. "You can't heal a wound you deny, nor can you rebuild a house by pretending it was never in ruins."
The priest also dismantles the argument that fear must vanish before the truth can be spoken. "We don't need to stop being afraid to start speaking the truth; we just need to ensure fear doesn't take us hostage, doesn't make decisions for us, and isn't greater than our desire for freedom."
Continued Advocacy for Honest Dialogue
This latest installment is part of a series of reflections the priest has intensified since August. On August 21, he described Cuba as a "stagnant" country and proposed a national dialogue towards democratic transition. Shortly after, on September 5, in a message dedicated to Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, he urged maintaining "the courage to speak the truth" amid repression. On October 1, he warned that hopes for change had significantly diminished because the expectations set at the start of the year were not met.
His outspokenness has been relentless. In the previous edition, number 178, Father Alberto Reyes asserted that people begin to reclaim their freedom when they lose the fear of publicly denouncing what many only whisper. The 179th issue delves deeper into this concept.
Consequences of Speaking Out
The priest's vocal activism has not gone unnoticed by the regime. In January 2026, State Security summoned and interrogated him alongside Father Castor José Álvarez Devesa, issuing them a "warning act" for their public criticisms. Father Alberto Reyes described the procedure as "intimidation rather than dialogue."
In May, he was summoned again under the threat of prosecution for alleged "promotion of hatred." In July, authorities barred him from traveling to Miami, and he described Cuba as a country in "permanent war" against its own people.
Despite these pressures, the priest, born in Camagüey in 1967, has not halted his column, which he has been publishing on Facebook since 2020 and now counts 179 installments.
"Cuba doesn't just need to change certain structures. It needs to reclaim something deeper: the ability to face its own reality without fear and to speak about it without disguises," he concludes in his latest text, closing with an image that encapsulates his entire line of thought: "In the heart of the Cuban, the longing for freedom resonates, and one of the first signs that a people is beginning to reclaim its freedom is when its men and women start calling things by their names."
Exploring the Challenges of Truth in Cuba
What are the consequences of speaking the truth in Cuba?
Speaking the truth in Cuba can lead to intimidation, legal action, and restrictions on personal freedom, as exemplified by the experiences of Father Alberto Reyes.
How has Father Alberto Reyes been affected by his activism?
Father Alberto Reyes has faced interrogations and travel restrictions due to his vocal criticism of the Cuban regime, yet he continues to advocate for truth and freedom through his writings.
Why is speaking the truth important for Cuba's future?
Addressing and acknowledging the truth is vital for initiating social reconstruction and reclaiming freedom in Cuba, as it confronts the realities that must change for a better future.
