Ray Flynn, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, cheered the release of Alan Gross on Wednesday but told Newsmax that any future diplomatic relations with Cuba must include addressing the Castro regime's longtime persecution of Christians and other human-rights violations.
"I'm a doubter," said Flynn, who also was mayor of Boston for nine years. "I want to make sure that if the United States is going to embrace a full diplomatic relationship with Cuba, that it does so knowing that it includes religious freedom and human rights.
"That is really the foundation of the United States' principles of foreign policy," he said.
Gross, 65, was set free from prison after five years as part of an agreement that included the release of three Cubans jailed in the United States.
On arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, he was
welcomed by U.S. lawmakers and met with Secretary of State John Kerry, who had just returned from Europe.
President Barack Obama later announced that the U.S. would restore the
diplomatic relations it severed with Cuba more than 50 years ago. The move came after 18 months of secret talks facilitated by the Vatican and Canada. The relations include embassies in both countries.
"I'm hoping that when they establish full diplomatic relations, that it's not just economic or tourism, but that it's also human rights and religious freedom," Flynn said.
He said that these issues should be even more crucial to any future ties with the Communist-run country, because Pope Francis was deeply involved in the secret negotiations.
"The Vatican has been interested in this issue for a long period of time," Flynn told Newsmax. "I heard the president praising the Vatican and praising the Holy Father.
"I'm not looking for a small step forward," he added. "I'm looking for a full step forward, and that includes what is important not only to Americans but to people of human rights and religious freedom all over the world.
"That is, giving people in Cuba their full rights as citizens of the world and citizens of Cuba, and that includes human rights, civil rights and religious freedom."
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