Poverty has deepened and unrest has risen since the 2000 legislative elections that observers said were flawed. In the past four months, at least 47 people have been killed in demonstrations, according to the Associated Press.
On Wednesday, the extraordinary assembly of the bishops’ conference issued a statement for the inauguration of the restored cathedral of Cap-Haitien and the installation of the new archbishop, Hubert Constant.
The bishops noted their Nov. 21 proposal to help mediate in the nation’s crisis. They said the proposal would be difficult to implement now in the face of rising violence against the civil population and the local media.
«It is impossible to sincerely call for peace while tolerating the perpetration of such acts against the person and against private property,» they said in a statement sent to the charity Aid to the Church in Need.
The prelates called on all parties to make courageous decisions in order to avert a national catastrophe.
