{"id":212534,"date":"2020-01-19T18:57:45","date_gmt":"2020-01-19T23:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=212534"},"modified":"2020-01-19T18:57:45","modified_gmt":"2020-01-19T23:57:45","slug":"the-cuban-who-became-sovereign-grand-commander-of-freemasonry-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/the-cuban-who-became-sovereign-grand-commander-of-freemasonry-in-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cuban who became sovereign grand commander of freemasonry in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Philosopher Octavio Carrera Gonz\u00e1lez wanted to be initiated in freemasonry in Cuba, where he was born, but he couldn\u2019t, so he took advantage of a study trip abroad to enter this society and, in time, be elected sovereign grand commander (president) of the Supreme Masonic Council of Spain.<\/span><\/p>\n

He traveled to Europe in 1996 to pursue a PhD in Philosophy at Jaime I University in Castell\u00f3n (Spain) and two years later contacted a lodge from the city of Valencia (east), according to him in an interview with EFE news agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Carrera, 57, obtained Spanish nationality, he could have been equally sovereign grand commander (elected last November) because this position is not vetoed in Spain to foreigners. Being an active member is enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had requested initiation in Cuba, but they rejected me. I was about to come to Spain to study and they felt it was not convenient,\u201d he summarizes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then he had \u201ctrouble\u201d to return. He worked at the University of Havana, he was asked to return before finishing his studies in Spain, but didn\u2019t do so, which was considered a \u201ckind of effect\u201d on his record, and for nine years he couldn\u2019t enter Cuba, according to his testimony<\/span><\/p>\n

But things changed and now he can travel to his country \u201cwithout any problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuba and freemasonry<\/b><\/p>\n

Regarding Cuban freemasonry, he is blunt when he says that he cannot speak on its behalf because one of the masonic principles is to respect the independence of this organization in each country.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, at the same time, he is sure that masonic values \u200b\u200bcan contribute to an opening on the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Octavio Carrera Gonz\u00e1lez. Photo: Facebook personal profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI am very convinced\u2015no doubt. Freemasonry in Cuba can provide that, a way of understanding citizenry, active citizens, with their own criteria and with capacity because freemasonry, in essence, is democracy: everything is voted, everything is chosen, the posts are not for life….\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In Cuba it is not prohibited, but \u201cit cannot take a political stance,\u201d he clarifies. In freemasonry there are traditional criteria of not arguing in the lodges about politics or religion, but their values \u200b\u200bare \u201cdemocratic\u201d: being supportive, considering the other as equal, respect for the different.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFreemasonry (in Cuba), I imagine will have a critical position regarding society, because it\u2019s what it does,\u201d comments Carrera, but \u201cit is obliged to respect the constitutional order of the country where it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sense of freemasonry<\/b><\/p>\n

Freemasonry studies ethics and issues related to personal development, the way of understanding society, humanity…. \u201cIt is a humanistic school in some way, it doesn\u2019t have its own philosophy, but it uses philosophy,\u201d explains the Spanish-Cuban Mason.<\/span><\/p>\n

In freemasonry there are some basic principles: freedom, equality and fraternity, and others, he adds, such as humanism, solidarity, respect for and recognition of the different in equality of rights.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe important thing about freemasonry today is that it helps citizens with values, because these have been abandoned in the world,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why freemasonry is not a humanitarian association that provides material, precise aid. \u201cWe work on personal growth, philosophical study, and it cannot be said now that philosophy is not important because it\u2019s not an NGO.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In today’s society, he says, there are few educational institutions that focus on values \u200b\u200bbecause the University, to some extent, has given that up by becoming more technical and specialized.<\/span><\/p>\n

He adds that \u201ctwo institutions whose project is an education on values \u200b\u200bare the church (of any kind) and freemasonry. The difference is that the first one believes in values \u200b\u200bthat are revealed and we believe in ones that are constructed in the Kantian sense…, based on discussion and consensus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Masoner\u00eda en Cuba: \u201cEscuela de ciudadanos\u201d<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n