Episcopal Press and News

Cuba Fails To Elect Coadjutor

Episcopal News Service. June 22, 1989 [89119E]

HAVANA (DPS. June 22) -- A special convention of the Diocese of Cuba met in Havana on June 10 to elect a bishop coadjutor to assist Diocesan Bishop Emilio Hernandez and to succeed him upon his retirement. The convention failed to elect a coadjutor.

Meeting in Holy Trinity Cathedral, with Hernandez presiding, the convention failed to reach a majority in either the clerical or lay orders. The convention recessed with no date set for reconvening.

The three leading candidates for the post were the Very Rev. Miguel Tomayo, dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Havana; the Ven. Raymond de la Paz, archdeacon of Oriente Province and rector of All Saints, Guantanamo City; and the Very Rev. Pablo Oden Marichal, dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas.

Although Tomayo received a majority of the lay votes, the votes of the 14 participating clergy were divided among the three leading candidates.