U.S. FINES CHURCH $34,000 FOR ‘BANNED TOURIST ACTIVITIES’ IN CUBA

U.S. Treasury officials have fined the Alliance of Baptists $34,000 for engaging in banned tourist activities while in Cuba. A Treasury letter to the Alliance claims church members did not engage in a full-time schedule of religious activities as required, but also visited Cuban craft markets and a beach resort. The alliance’s executive director, Rev. Stan Hastey, insists that the activities were either part of or incidental to the group’s religious mission. He believes the Bush administration may have singled out the Alliance of Baptists because of their opposition to the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba. The group plans to appeal the fine which would constitute about 10 percent of its annual operating budget. (WorldWide Religious News/Associated Press)