The Portal January 2019 | Page 20

THE P RTAL January 2019 Page 20 Aid to the Church in Need Working for the love of God – and the love of Haiti John Newton reports D espite corruption and other challenges facing Haiti in the wake of a series of natural disasters, an archbishop has described how the Church is working to ensure “we continue to grow in love and hope”. Archbishop Launay Saturné of Cap-Haïtien, president of the Haitian Bishops’ Conference, spoke to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need about the problems facing parishioners in the country. An official statement from the bishops’ conference described dishonesty in public office as “unacceptable and unsustainable”. The bishops also “publicly denounced the corruption, because it is a scourge, an evil in society.” Responding to the challenges facing the earthquakes which have hit the island, country, including allegations of corruption the Archdiocese of Cap-Haïtien is extending to the highest levels of public providing 80 hectares (197 acres) of land. office, Archbishop Saturné said: “What Haiti Archbishop Saturné said: “Working this needs is a ‘new man’ who lives a Christian land can help to reduce unemployment, life in today’s society”. He added: “As bishops increase local production and persuade and pastors we must walk together with the workers to stay at home and work to people of God, who have been entrusted to earn a living.” Helping Haitians rebuild our fatherly and pastoral care.” Describing the their homes is another priority. Speaking of importance of honesty and accountability, the ACN benefactors’ “loving and generous archbishop said: “Over and above the hearts”, he told a visiting delegation intellectual formation, the family from the charity: “Thank you… and the school have to inculcate Thank you for your donations - in children and young people the Archbishop Launay Saturné of Cap-Haïtien (©ACN) thank you also for the visit by the love of God, love of neighbour, representatives of ACN to Haiti, love of country, respect for the common good, civic and to my archdiocese, to help us rebuild what was responsibility and patriotism.” destroyed by the earthquake of 2010.” Identifying “evangelisation, education and formation” as the means to cultivate Christian values on an island where the vast majority of the 11.5 million inhabitants regard themselves as Catholics, he said: “The Church must always remain faithful to her Divine Founder… [so] that we can continue to grow in love and hope, as the Gospel tells us to. [W]e must help the people to become better educated in the social teaching of the Church, so that they can be more aware of its role and implication in the responsible management of public life for the good of all.” Archbishop Saturné added: “For the Church, education is a most urgent priority, a result of which is the parish school, in which the Church can distribute the ‘bread of education’ to the most disadvantaged children in the remotest areas of the country, where the State is absent. To tell the truth, we are making up for many of the deficiencies of the State, both in this and in many other areas.” In response to the devastation caused by the Aid to the Church in Need - www.acnuk.org contact: [email protected] or call 020 8642 8668 Ecumenical Marian Pilgrimage Trust Registered Charity no. 1108173 Ecumenical Pilgrimage at Walsingham Tuesday 19th - Friday 22nd March 2019 CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN, ORTHODOX AND FREE CHURCH LITURGIES, TALKS AND DEVOTIONS Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Orthodox) HE Archbishop Edwin Adams (Papal Nuncio tbc) Bishop Jonathan Goodall of Ebbsfleet (Anglican) Prof Frances Young (Methodist) Preb Norman Wallwork (Methodist) Eleanor Jackson (Society of Friends) Fr Peter Farrington (Coptic Orthodox) Rev Dr Gareth Powell (Methodist) Fr Philip Corbett (Anglican) Fr Kevin Alban O.Carm (Catholic) Michael Russell (Catholic) Further details and booking form: [email protected] or online at: www.EcumenicalMarianPilgrimage.org.uk