The leader of Cuba's Roman Catholic Church has defended the church's role on the island and rejected criticism it is not doing enough to support opponents of the government.
At a conference Thursday in Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega said backing the opposition is not part of the church's mission. The cardinal, however, was quoted as saying the church cannot be asked to support the government.
Cardinal Ortega went on to say that the church will stick to its spiritual mission and work for reconciliation among Cubans.
The comments come weeks after President Fidel Castro's government prosecuted more than 75 pro-democracy dissidents for treason and subversion and executed three convicted ferry hijackers.
Cuba's Roman Catholic Church condemned the executions, saying violence is not eliminated by more violence