The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince denounced the “collapse of humanity” in Haitian society, “where the unthinkable has become commonplace,”
Newsroom (12/08/2025 Gaudium Press) The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince has issued a scathing condemnation of the escalating violence in Haiti, describing the recent kidnapping of nine individuals, including an Irish lay missionary and a disabled 3-year-old boy, from an orphanage near the capital as a stark symbol of the “collapse of humanity” in the nation. The abductions, which occurred on August 3, 2025, in Kenscoff, have sparked outrage and sorrow, with the archdiocese expressing “deep sadness and profound indignation” over the incident.
In a powerful statement released on August 6, the archdiocese mourned the targeting of a place of refuge, calling the orphanage a “tireless sower of hope for the most vulnerable.” The statement extended solidarity to the residents of Kenscoff, a town gripped by relentless violence in recent months, and decried the growing normalization of such atrocities. “Once again, crimes committed with chilling cynicism bear witness to the collapse of humanity in our society, where the unthinkable has become a daily occurrence,” the statement read. “Crime knows no bounds. And places of care, education, refuge, and hope are now being targeted.”
The archdiocese framed the kidnappings as an assault on the core values of society, stating, “This kidnapping constitutes an attack on what is most noble in a society: service free of charge to others, the innocence of the defenseless child, the faith embodied in works of mercy.” It condemned the act as a manifestation of “moral collapse, state failure, and a society that is losing its sense of life and human dignity.”
Warning against the dangers of apathy, the archdiocese cautioned that allowing competing interests to desensitize society to victims’ suffering risks making Haitians “accomplices in the slow but sure destruction of this country.” The statement underscored the need for vocal resistance, declaring, “Silence in the face of the unacceptable is a form of renunciation of our human and Christian vocation.”
The archdiocese called on the faithful and “all men and women of goodwill” to unite in prayer, raise their voices, and take concrete steps to combat the pervasive “climate of dehumanization.” It also issued a direct appeal to civil, military, and police authorities to fulfill their duty to ensure public safety and secure the immediate release of the kidnapped individuals. “Haiti’s future cannot be built on blood, impunity, and fear,” the statement asserted.
In closing, the archdiocese invoked spiritual resilience, urging collective action and faith to counter the crisis. “The time has come together to say enough. And to act,” the statement concluded. “In these dark days, may the light of the risen Christ illuminate our decisions, our words, and our actions. May Our Lady of Perpetual Help intercede for our beloved Haiti and especially for all those who are suffering.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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