Haiti: “We must overcome our fear and bestow hope”
Plagued by gangs that plunder, kidnap, and terrorize, Haiti fights for its survival every day. In the midst of this violence, the Church remains a beacon of hope for the country, says Father Baudelarie Martial, a Haitian priest from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, who visited ACN’s international headquarters.
Gangs control about 80 percent of the capital and the main roads. What is the situation in Port-au-Prince in terms of security?
The situation in Port-au-Prince is unacceptable, intolerable, and inconceivable. We live in very precarious conditions. People are hungry, and there is a shortage of medication. Many doctors have been kidnapped. Some schools are still closed; teachers make very little money; there is no tourism; and the major tourist compound of Labadee, in the north, is closed. The agricultural sector also faces great difficulties: for example, the rice paddies of the Artibonito region were taken by gangs armed with high-calibre weapons. In general, the situation in the country in terms of safety is very complicated, and to make it worse, we are getting poorer by the day.
With the recent arrival of Kenyan policemen under the auspices of the UN, do you believe that the situation might improve?
Yes, we are hoping that the Kenyan authorities might help us get back on our feet. Now, it is the gangs who are afraid, and we have seen them trying to negotiate. For days, the situation has been calmer. Nonetheless, we ask for more than apparent calm: we demand the release of Port-au-Prince and all the remotest corners of Haiti, so we can live as before. The other day, the state regained control of the Great Central Hospital of Port-au-Prince, which is a promising sign.
Haiti just marked the third anniversary of the murder of President Jovenel Moïse. What is the political situation at the moment? Will it be possible to organize elections in the coming months?
The priority at the moment, for everyone, is security, and putting food on the table! Eventually, we will have a period of constitutional reform, followed by an electoral process and, finally, free, honest, and democratic elections. According to the agreement that allowed for the forming of the current government, the Transitional Presidential Council has two years to organize elections. But you can’t do anything without security.
Many religious have been kidnapped in recent years. Is the Church a particular target for these gangs?
I have the impression that there is an organized campaign against the Church, because we have seen so many priests and religious fall victim to these gangs. In my community, a priest was kidnapped, and we had to pay a ransom for his release. Many dioceses and communities have suffered from theft and aggression. This is how they pressure the Church into silence, but our prophetic mission requires us to call out what is evil. We know that this is a risky position, but that is our cross, and we accept it. As a Church, we must have the faith and the strength to accompany our people and all those who suffer, and we will continue to do so, even at risk to our own lives.
Living in Port-au-Prince, have you ever felt afraid?
Back home, when we leave the house, we never know if we’re coming back. I have sometimes had to throw myself to the ground to dodge bullets. We hear the sound of automatic weapons throughout the day. We are afraid, but we have to be present to support our people. We are suffering, but we are called to go beyond this suffering, towards hope.
What is the situation for children and young people?
The young people live in daily terror. In the Foyer de l’Esperance – a social center that I run for young people – a 12-year-old girl was murdered, and another was violently attacked. Several schools are closed. Fortunately, thanks to everything that was set up in the pandemic, some schools are prepared to teach online. We finished this school year as best we could, and we hope that things will improve before the next year begins.
Is it safe for the faithful to go to Mass in Port-au-Prince?
Many of the parishes are closed. Some of them, such as the cathedral, are in conflict zones. This year, for example, the Chrism Mass was celebrated in the Church of Our Lady of Altagracia in Delmas, instead of in the cathedral. Other areas are more accessible, and so the faithful have taken to gathering in the parishes that are open. We also offer pastoral support online. The people’s faith remains alive. A large crowd attended Mass on Holy Thursday, for instance, despite the danger.
How do you get the hope to go on each day?
In the face of all these difficulties, as pastors of our people, we try to keep hope alive despite everything. Fortunately, the Church is there for support. Some people are traumatized and have suffered serious injury or abuse, but as time goes by, the shock diminishes. Fear remains, but as a Church, we cannot surrender. We have to keep moving forward and bestow hope.
What is your role in all this, as a priest?
As a priest, my role is to bear witness. This crisis is also an opportunity to love and support, especially the needy and those who are facing challenges. Because it is our responsibility to accompany them and help them recover hope. I have been the director of CIFOR (The Inter-institute Center for Religious Formation) for 15 years. That is where, with the support of ACN, we provide seminarians with intellectual, spiritual, and human formation.
Do you have a special message for benefactors who support Haiti?
I would like to thank ACN’s benefactors, because thanks to your help, the Haitian Church can still carry out its prophetic role. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, because without ACN, the calamity in Haiti would be even worse, and without the foundation’s support, the situation of the seminarians would be even darker. A million thanks!
In 2023, ACN supported the Church in Haiti with 55 projects valued at $894,575. Among these projects were formation programs, subsistence aid for female religious, and Mass stipends for priests. ACN has also supported CIFOR’s formation programs, providing young religious with training adapted to a consecrated life.
– Amélie Berthelin