Haitian archbishop says people must change for country to change

Published: 2004-06-30

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS) -- In order for Haitian politics to change, the Haitian people must change, said a retired Haitian archbishop. "Change can only be brought about by a change in political structures, which can only be brought about by the renewal of each Haitian," said retired Archbishop Francois Gayot of Cap-Haitien during a June 24 conference on Haitian political parties held outside Port-au-Prince. The conference was organized by the Port-au-Prince-based Higher Institute of Political and Social Training. The church has been mostly silent since the Feb. 29 departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his replacement by an interim government charged with organizing elections in 2005. The speech by Archbishop Gayot was one of the few public statements on the political situation made recently by the church hierarchy. Aristide, a former Catholic priest, was elected president for a second time in 2000, but was forced out amid allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .