Haiti: Church “the last remaining wall” against gangs
As the country sinks into an unprecedented crisis, corroded by armed gangs, the Church remains standing, sowing hope in the midst of despair.
The legislative and presidential elections due to be held in Haiti on August 30 – the first since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 – have been postponed until December. But the idea of elections still seems like a distant dream in a country devastated by the violence of armed gangs, who control vast areas of the territory.
“The restoration of security is a prerequisite for holding the first round,” warned the president of the Provisional Electoral Council at the end of 2025. Unfortunately, since then, the so-called “Pearl of the Antilles” has been sinking deeper into chaos every day, and the holding of the elections remains uncertain.
Armed gangs now control between 70% and 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as the strategic departments of Artibonite and Centre, and continue to expand their power. By collecting illegal tolls on major roads, they have become the real masters of the country, sowing terror throughout the territory.
The presence of armed gangs is not new in Haiti and dates back several decades. However, they grew particularly strong in the 1990s, when former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, fearing a coup d’état, dismantled the army and created a parallel militia tasked with intimidating the population. The turning point came in 2018, when the government used them to quell a widespread popular revolt, thereby opening a Pandora’s Box. Since then, through murders, kidnappings, and all kinds of illicit activities, they have spread their influence with complete impunity, taking advantage of the political and economic crisis to consolidate their power.
In this context of fear and the total breakdown of institutions, the Church continues to accompany a suffering people. However, the scourge of the gangs has a devastating impact on the functioning of the country’s 10 dioceses. In Port-au-Prince, 40 parishes have had to close; around 15 have been shuttered in the central plateau and another 10 in Artibonite. Although the other dioceses remain for now relatively unaffected, they live in constant fear of an expansion of the violence.
Because it is the only institution that openly denounces the control exercised by the gangs, the Church has become a priority target. “We are the last remaining retaining wall: moral, ethical, spiritual, and prophetic… That is why they want to eliminate us,” says Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste of the Diocese of Jérémie, during a conversation with the foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
On March 31, 2025, in the town of Mirebalais in central Haiti, Sisters Evanette and Jeanne of the Little Sisters of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus were killed by armed gangs while on mission. The memory of the incident remains fresh. In the first seven months of 2026, one seminarian has also been murdered, and two priests have been kidnapped. But 2024 was perhaps one of the most difficult years, with the kidnappings of nine religious sisters, five brothers, and four priests.
Numerous religious institutions have also been attacked and forced to close. After storming the buildings, the gangs set fire to them or turn them into their bases of operations. Many Catholic schools, some with more than a century of history, have suffered the same fate. No one knows if they will ever be recovered, or in what state they will be found if they are.
In the midst of this dramatic situation, the Church continues its work by constantly adapting and maintaining unwavering trust. “In Creole, we say Pitit Manman Marie pa janm pèdi batay, which means: ‘The children of the Virgin Mary never lose a battle!,” Bishop Décoste tells ACN. “That is why we keep going.”
The Church has set up online teaching programs, welcomes thousands of displaced people in the southern and western dioceses, broadcasts Masses and religious programs via diocesan radio stations, and maintains, whenever possible, pilgrimages and processions. Frequently, the faithful brave the insecurity to participate in important celebrations, such as the Stations of the Cross or the great Marian feasts.
And every now and then, small miracles happen. In Port-au-Prince, in an area known as “Village de Dieu” and controlled by gangs, the parish of St. Bernadette had to close. However, on the occasion of its patronal feast, it was the gangs themselves who demanded that it reopen and that the festivities be held.
The nearly 200 diocesan seminarians continue their studies as best they can, facing danger daily, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Port-au-Prince. In fact, sometimes they have to throw themselves to the ground and take shelter under the bed to avoid being hit by a stray bullet. Moreover, journeys between the seminary and the parishes are extremely dangerous and, at times, simply impossible.
“We keep praying, singing, and dancing. In Haiti, we say: ‘As long as they haven’t cut off our head, we still have hope of wearing a hat.’ That is why we never lose hope,” concludes Bishop Décoste with a smile.
And he adds: “This capacity for resilience is possible thanks to the great support we feel from organizations like Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Your prayers sustain us enormously; without them, we could not carry on. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart!”
ACN has supported the Church in Haiti through projects such as diocesan radio stations, solar energy initiatives, and assistance for the formation and sustenance of priests, religious sisters, and catechists.
– Amelie Berthelin
