Author: Stephen Alexander – On Thursday, Cuba’s Catholic primate, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, met with dissident leaders from the group Ladies in White to mediate their concerns over the Cuban government’s repression.

Cuban exile groups and internal dissidents have criticized the Cardinal recently. At the close of the mediation held at the Havana Archdiocese, the spokesperson for Ladies in White,  Berta Soler, told reporters that the Cardinal was “very receptive” and listened to their request.

Ms Soler and the leaders informed the cardinal that members of the dissident group were being “taken to jail” for going to their church services on Sunday. Moreover, the repression against the group has increased recently.

The goal of the meeting, according to Ms Soler was to reduce the level of violence that the group faces in Cuba. Their hope lies with the Cardinal communicating with Cuban president, Raul Castro.

Ms Soler’s intention is for the church to proceed with a mediation with the Cuban government. Her group promises to continue “knocking on the doors” of the Catholic church until that goals is met.