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Los Angeles Times examines Haiti's now-official Voodoo
As Weblog noted in April, Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former Catholic priest, has made Voodoo an officially recognized religion. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports, Voodoo priests or houngans soon will "be authorized to perform any civil service a Roman Catholic priest can, officiating at births, marriages and funerals."

"Voodoo has done everything for Haiti," Adnor Adely, a Voodoo priest, told the Times. "It gave us our independence, while the imported religions held us by the throat. We owe this to Aristide. He can be considered the president of Voodoo."

Voodoo has been legal in Haiti since the 1987 Haitian constitution. Given Voodoo's deep history and standing in Haiti, Aristide's move could be as much about political advantage as about freedoms. He is rumored to be attempting to change the nation's constitution in order to remain in office for a third term. He may now have the necessary support.

"Aristide is the only president in our history who has done something for us," said Adely. "We will stay with him forever and perform every ceremony necessary to keep him in power. We will not negotiate with any country on this, no matter how much pressure they put on us. We will eat rocks if we have to, as long as we can keep him in power."

The Catholic community in Haiti condemned Aristide's decision. In a statement, the bishop of Port-au-Prince, Msgr. Joseph Lafontant, said that giving Voodoo official status was "excessive." He also said that the application of the decree, that Voodoo priests can lead civil ceremonies and baptisms, is "an obvious mistake."

ELCA responds to youth convention rape charges
Yesterday, Weblog noted the arrest of three teens charged with rape an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America youth retreat at Trinity Lutheran College in Issaquah, Washington. Weblog could not find a statement posted at the websites of the ELCA or its regional headquarters, but yesterday afternoon received the following statement via e-mail from ELCA Communication Director Eric C. Shafer:

We were distressed to learn of the crimes that have been charged this week against participants at the "Rainbow of Gifts" event at Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, Wash. We are shocked that such behavior could occur at a youth leadership event, and we have taken immediate action to respond to this incident.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) takes matters such as these very seriously. ELCA personnel on the scene are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities investigating this matter.

At the same time, the ELCA is providing pastoral support to those who were hurt, to those who have been accused and to those who are continuing at the conference at Trinity Lutheran College. We offer our concern and prayers for all involved. We pray especially that the healing power of the Holy Spirit will bring comfort to the young people affected, as well as their families and friends.

More articles:

Earlier articles on Gene Robinson that haven't yet been included in Weblog:

• My love is sacred, gay candidate for bishop tells American church (The Guardian, London)
  
  
• Vote on gay bishop a mixed blessing | Robinson's standing isn't even the most emotional issue in the Episcopal Church (Charles W. Bell, New York Daily News)
  
  
• Gay bishop says he'll stand by his mandate | Robinson claimed his confirmation as bishop would encourage the disillusioned to return to going to church (The Sydney Morning Herald)
  
  

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August (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47