A bishop in Haiti has warned that gangs controlling the island nation are increasingly targeting churches.
Almost 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by armed gangs, as are significant parts of Artibonite and Centre provinces. They collect illegal tolls, and force the closure of parishes and churches - sometimes turning them into gang bases.
Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste of Jérémie told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): “We are the last remaining bulkhead – moral, ethical, spiritual and prophetic… That is why they want to eliminate us.”
Legislative and presidential elections, originally scheduled for 30th August, have been postponed to December, but Church sources say voting remains uncertain while armed gangs control large parts of the country. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti has struggled to restore stability.
Gang violence has taken a toll on church life already; in Port-au-Prince alone, 40 parishes have closed, with around 15 more shut in the central plateau and 10 in Artibonite. Catholic schools and religious houses have also suffered repeated attacks.
Clergy and religious have been directly targeted, with one seminarian murdered and two priests kidnapped in the first seven months of 2026. On 31st March 2025, Sisters Evanette and Jeanne of the Little Sisters of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus were killed by armed gangs in Mirebalais, central Haiti. Last year, nine religious Sisters, five brothers, and four priests were abducted.
Despite the grave risks, Bishop Décoste said the Church continues to serve the Haitian people through pastoral care, prayer, radio broadcasts, online teaching, and practical support for thousands of internally displaced Haitians. “We keep praying, singing and dancing. In Haiti we say: ‘As long as they haven’t cut off our head, we still have hope of wearing a hat.’ That is why we never lose hope."
