PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti– The Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) and the Haitian Conference of Religious (CHR) said Friday they would continue the closure of all its schools, presbyters, and other facilities as church officials deny that the seven religious persons, including five priests, had been released by their kidnappers.
In a brief statement, the CEH and the CHR confirmed that all of its facilities, including schools, presbyters, congregants, universities and other institutions, except hospitals and health centers, had been closed from Wednesday for three days “to demand the release of the five priests and two nuns kidnapped” on Sunday.”
Reports said that members of the criminal gang “400 mawozo” abducted the seven including two nuns, while they were going to the installation ceremony of a priest at the immaculate church of Galette Chambon (Ganthier) on April 12.
“On behalf of the Government of the Republic, the Ministry of Worship vehemently condemns the kidnapping followed by the sequestration, on Sunday, April 11, 2021, of seven religious from the Religious Community of Saint Jacques, accompanied by members of their families.
“The Government, which deplores this new unspeakable action of deviant elements of society, has been actively working on the file since yesterday,” the Ministry of Worship said in the statement.
Earlier this week, Father Paul Doussous, Superior General, and the Council of the Society of Priests of Saint-Jacques denied reports circulating on social networks that the religious persons had been released.
“At the time of writing this note …the steps still in progress to obtain the release of our people have not yet succeeded. I, therefore, ask you to be patient, to avoid haphazard reflections, and to maintain confidence in the imminent outcome of our efforts,” Father Doussous said.
Media reports said that the kidnappers had demanded a million US dollars ransom for their release.
“This is too much. The time has come for these inhuman acts to stop,” Monsignor Pierre-André Dumas, Bishop of Miragoâne, said following the abduction, adding, “the Church prays and stands in solidarity with all the victims of this odious act.”
The five priests abducted include a French national, Father Michel Briand, with the others being Father Evens Joseph, Father Jean Nicaisse Milien, Father Joël Thomas, all from the Society of Priests of Saint Jacques (PSJ), and Father Hugues Baptiste, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cap-Haitien.
The two nuns have been identified as Sister Anne Marie Dorcélus and Sister Agnès Bordeau, a French national. Also, three members of the family of Father Arnel Joseph have been kidnapped.
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