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August 6, 1994
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
1. Some weeks ago, on the eve of Pentecost, we issued a cry of alarm about the threat of an armed foreign intervention and the risk of our losing our sovereignty.
2. Today, on the feast of the Lord's Transfiguration, we are faced no longer with a threat but by a decision of the international community to invade and to occupy Haiti: a decision taken on July 29, 1994, seventy-nine years after the American occupation of 1915 to 1934.
3. This decision for armed intervention made us tremble with indignation in recalling the horrors of the 1915 American occupation as related by the elders, recorded in history and conserved in the collective memory: humiliations of every kind, massacres of the innocent, forced labor, floggings, torture, repression, rapes, inhumane treatment and the rest.
4. Our people are the living proof of this lot of suffering, the heavy heritage which we all bear, and which explains certain attitudes and certain reprehensible practices, which serve as a pretext for justifying an armed intervention and occupation of the country.
5. This indignation has created a justifiable anger among the Haitian people. Even though they know that "the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God" (Jas 1, 20), it is not possible, however, to stop oneself from condemning with all of one's strength Resolution 940 of the U.N. Security Council authorizing an eventual armed intervention in Haiti.
On The Legal Level
6. The process which led to this resolution is without legal basis since Haiti does not constitute a security threat to the region. "Haiti is not at war with anyone." (Message of the C.E.H., April 24, 1993, n 5).
7. The adoption of a resolution authorizing armed intervention on the pretext that the "unique character" of the present situation in Haiti calls for "exceptional action" is scandalous and immoral.
8. What is unique and exceptional is not the Haitian situation, it is the fact that so many nations of the world are in league to destroy this country and its people who are unable to defend themselves. What is operating here is not the interests of the Haitian people nor the defense of democracy, but special interests not of the Haitian people.
9. Carrying out of this resolution will have grave consequences.
Armed intervention in Haiti will open a hellish cycle of institutionalized and calculated violence. Armed intervention will cause disruption of government, family, religious, social, economic and political institutions.
10. Occupation of the country will create in the people feelings of fear, of insecurity, and an interior revolt against the slavery that they believe will never be abolished. This is a grave risk. We warn the leaders of the international community not to take it.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
11. As you can confirm, a real danger that daily becomes more clear threatens us all, without exception.
They are trying to divide us, with brother rising up against brother, as the Gospel says, and children against parents (Mt. 10:21; Lk 21:16).
"BE WATCHFUL AND PRAY!"
BE WATCHFUL!
12. We must not fall into the trap set by those who wish to divide the Haitian people. Let us find the paths of unity.
We know that some reflection groups are already operating; we encourage them to continue. At the same time, we implore everyone else, individuals, families, religious communities to immediately begin meeting to pray and reflect together.
PRAY!
13. "In all circumstances, pray without ceasing." (1 Th 5:17-18)
"Remain steadfast in the faith." (1 Pt 5:9)
In this spirit, we invite all, brothers and sisters, beloved Christians, people of good will, to persevere in prayer.
14. We are just a few days away from the feast of Our Lady's Assumption. We urge the faithful to unite together in prayer and fasting. We urge in a special way that parishes, chapels, religious communities, monasteries, prayer groups, and the like organize a Marian triduum August 12 to 14, to pray that the Virgin Mary obtain from her Divine Son, deliverance and protection for Haiti.