THE EDITOR, Sir:
I SEE where leaders of the Caribbean Conference of Churches have taken a strong position on the serious political issue of Aristide's claim to be the rightful President of Haiti. Their strongly-worded statement expresses concern that his removal will present "additional problems for the region in promoting democratic rule in Haiti."
Having relieved themselves of the pain occasioned by Jean-Bertrand's departure, leaders of the Caribbean Conference of Churches might now like to pronounce on the former president's religious activities. In 1995 he renounced the Roman Catholic church and, last year, declared voodoo an official religion in Haiti. This move, according to some churchmen in Haiti, "could signal danger for evangelical Christians."
MURDERED
Last August it was reported that five pastors were murdered in northern Haiti; and it was blamed on the strong influence of voodoo in the area. Aristide may have had nothing to do with that incident, but at his presidential inauguration he certainly accepted the sash bestowed on him by a voodoo priestess. And in 1995 he convened at the National Palace a large voodoo congress attended by some of the leading practitioners of 'black magic'. In his address Aristide equated voodoo with Christianity, Islam and Judaism; and he promised funding to build a voodoo temple.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's religion seems to run contrary to the mission and the expressed beliefs of the Caribbean Conference of Churches. It isn't something he keeps to himself; he was proselytising when in March 1995 he invited President Bill Clinton to join him at a voodoo ceremony near his Tabarre residence. Be it also noted that the rooster, icon of the voodoo, is his election symbol.
All I am asking is for the Caribbean Conference of Churches to take a little time from its political posturing and take a stance on the question of voodoo vs. Christianity.
I am, etc.,
KEN JONES
alllerdyce@hotmail.com
Kingston 8
