AMERICA/HAITI - Solidarity and prayer for the victims of kidnappings

Saturday, 17 April 2021 social situation kidnapping politics violence local churches

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Port au Prince (Agenzia Fides) - In all ten dioceses of the country, Catholics in Haiti held special masses on Thursday April 15 to show their solidarity with the victims of kidnappings. In the parish of Saint-Pierre in Pétion-Ville, the country's bishops concelebrated mass and again demanded the release of all victims of kidnapping and an end to general insecurity.
The Bishops' Conference also asked for all church bells in the country to "speak" in the spirit of communion, commemoration and prayers for people who are victims of kidnappings, violence and insecurity in general.
Meanwhile, the faithful gathered in the parish of Saint Pierre received the bishops with the song "Nou Bouke" ("We are tired", a song that is sung at every popular demonstration against insecurity), while activists, carrying posters occupied the corridors of the temple in the sign of protest.
"We strongly condemn all kidnappings in the country", said the chairman of the Haiti Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Launay Saturné. In this context, the bishop emphasized that the Haitian Bishops' Conference and the Conference of Haitian Religious call for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted people in the country. "We pray for an end to insecurity and kidnappings. We dream of a Haiti without insecurity, without kidnappings and without violence. We pray for the release of all abductees and for the conversion of all those involved in the kidnappings", the Bishop urged and called on all citizens to do their part to create a new Haiti and reminded the authorities of their duty to take responsibility.
Following the service, human rights activists gathered for a spontaneous demonstration, during which the police fired tear gas. A vehicle was also set on fire on the sidelines of the demonstration.
On April 15, the Catholic Church of Haiti also ordered the closure of Catholic schools, universities and all other institutions in order to denounce the recent kidnappings of church officials (see Fides 12/4/2021). In the capital, shopping centers were also closed due to the protest. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 17/4/2021)