Father Jean-Juste Released! Preval Cruising to Haitian Presidency!
Finally, some good news coming out of Haiti. First of all, and I am late in posting this, on Sunday, January 29, the Haitian government put Father Gerard Jean-Juste, accompanied by his American attorney, Bill quickly, on the 11:45 American Airlines flight to Miami! This liberating event occurred after a farcical series of events.
On Saturday, UN troops and Haitian police escorted Father to Canape Vert hospital in PAP. This is the best hospital in Haiti, but still very poor by American standards. We spent an agonizing night there in 2004; the only ventilator in the hospital didn't work. Anyway, Father was taken to Canape Vert because the Haitian government had arranged for two Haitian oncologists to examine him.
This, of course, was weeks after the Haitian government reported that their doctors said Father didn't have cancer, a diagnosis that was hard to defend after Dr. Paul Farmer took some blood from Father to Miami and had it tested, where it showed Father had leukemia. Well, true to Haitian form, the oncologists didn't show up! Maybe they didn't want to get involved in a political case. Maybe they were the ones who said he didn't have cancer. Who knows? Father waited there awhile and said his rosary. When the doctors didn't show, the authorities returned Father to jail and then the next day he was on the plane. Hip! Hip! Hooray! We found out when John called the third American doctor who examined Father a few days prior to his release and found his condition to be deteriorating significantly. She confirmed that he was on the plane.
Father received treatment for pneumonia and leukemia at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. and is now out of the hospital. The Haitian goverment is stating that this is a conditional release and that after Father completes treatment he will have to return to Haiti to "face justice." To face injustice, is more like it, seeing how Father was imprisoned for six months with no credible charges brought against him.
The good news about that scenario is that by the time Father is ready to return to Haiti, a new government will be installed. On Tuesday, February 7, Haiti held elections. As I write this, the vote is still being tallied, but what is known for sure is that the heavy front runner, Rene Preval, is the winner. What's more, he may have garnered more than 50 percent of the vote, which would make him the outright winner of the presidency, avoiding a need for a runoff election in March. I think Preval can be a good bridge between the few but powerful rich and the numerous suffering poor, who often seem to be at odds, with the former having the control and the latter the moral claim for change.
The other good news about the elections, is despite all the difficulties of voting--violence, not enough polling stations, long lines and waits, etc.-- it seems as if the turn out was heavy, which speaks to the Haitian people's desire for democracy.
Father Gerard Jean-Juste may not have had political freedom in Haiti, but we are glad he is receiving the medical care he needs. And after he got out of the Miami hospital, he spoke at a press conference wearing a Rene Preval t-shirt.
Long live Preval! Long live Haiti!
Showing posts with label Father Jean-Juste. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father Jean-Juste. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
A Tale of Two Prisoners:
Last March, John and I met Father Gerry Jean-Juste at his parish, St. Clare’s in a poor section of Port-au-Prince. We attended Mass there and were impressed by Father’s energetic and prayerful advocacy for the poor. At the end of Mass, Father had a little girl, Raphaella, who was badly burned on her face, arms, and torso, come up on the alter. He asked the congregation to help this six-year-old and her family, who had spent all their money on Raphaella’s care, when she was burned by an exploding propane tank. Raphaella’s skin was still healing; the scar tissue was hardening around her mouth and arm, making them difficult to move.
After Mass, we approached Father Jean-Juste and told him we would try to find a hospital in the States for Raphaella. Fast forward several months: thanks to a phone call I answered while in the shower from an angel I had never met named Keri, Raphaella was accepted by Boston Shriners Hospital. This fine institution agreed to provide her with surgery at no cost to her or us.
In the meantime, Father Jean-Juste was arrested on bogus charges and imprisoned. This is the second time Father has been imprisoned for no reason, other than advocating for the poor. We visited him in September and again in December. At the second visit, John examined Father, as the lymph nodes in his neck and under his arms were noticeably swollen. John participated in a press conference in PAP, arranged by American lawyer Bill Quigley, stating that Father was seriously ill and needed treatment.
Around the time of our second visit to Father, Rose, our friend in PAP, accompanied Raphaella and her mother to the U.S. consulate to apply for visas. The hospital required a legal guardian to accompany Raphaella. We had also thought it best that a parent be with Raphaella as she underwent what could be a painful and lengthy surgery and recovery. The consulate official granted Raphaella a visa but denied her mother, based on his belief that she would not return to Haiti.
Rose sent letters to the Inspector General of the State Department, the host family had their congress person contact the consulate, and we wrote the following letter asking the consulate to reconsider their decision.
To Whom It May Concern:
Haitian Hearts is sponsoring the trip of Raphaella Alexandre, a Haitian minor, to Boston Shriners for medical care, with her initial appointment on January 18. Raphaella was severely burned and will be having reconstructive surgery. Boston Shriners is requiring that one of Raphella's legal guardians accompany Raphaella to the U.S. for medical care.
The U.S. Consulate has approved Raphaella for a visa to come to the U.S. for treatment but denied a visa for her mother. We are respectfully requesting the consulate to reconsider this decision and grant Audanise Alexandre-Saint Felix a visa. Without her mother accompanying her, Raphaella will not be able to receive medical treatment. Raphaella and her mother will return to Haiti after the completion of Raphaella's medical treatment, and we will have them verify this by checking in with the U.S. consulate.
If you have any questions about this, please e-mail me at drjohn@mtco.com. Thank you very much for your help with this matter.
Sincerely,
John A. Carroll, M.D.
Medical DirectorHaitian Hearts
A couple days later, we received this disheartening response.
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 12:15:17 -0500
From: "PAP, NIV" <PaPNIV@state.gov>
To: "'Realname'" <drjohn@mtco.com>
Subject: RE: NIV for Audanise Alexandre-Saint Felix
Dear Dr. Carroll:
This is to inform you that Ms. Audanise Saint Felix Alexandre was determinedto be ineligible for a B1/B2 visa under Section 214(b) of the Immigrationand Nationality Act. This section of law stipulates that all nonimmigrantvisa applicants must satisfy the interviewing consular officer that they areentitled to the type of visa for which they are applying and that they havesufficient ties to their country of residence, to overcome the presumptionof being an intending immigrant as required by law. Therefore, we wouldsuggest that the family designate a temporary guardian who will travel andcare for Raphaella during her stay in the United States.
Regards,
The Nonimmigrant visa section
I was about ready to give up on getting Raphaella’s mom a visa. But that same week, I received the following letter from indefatigable Rose, our contact in PAP with the good news that both visas were being granted.
Dear Maria,
Both visas are for 1 year, until Jan. 12, 2007!
This will give the hospital a chance for more flexibility in the treatments if they think spreading them out is good, perhaps even an intermission at home in Haiti.
I received another message of refusal of a visa for Raphaella's mother late the day before yesterday, unsigned, expressing the same objections as usual, saying that based on the interview, the interviewer made an unalterable decision. This morning I started trying to reach Jay Smith at about 7:00. At 7:45, Jeanette Langston Duval, head of Non-Immigrant Visa Division answered his number and repeated all the arguments again at some length. I told her I had been present and there had been nothing resembling an interview. The interviewer told me he was not even required to read anything in the file. He knew that the woman was a high risk for returning to Haiti. I spoke of how familiar I was with all the circumstances and that I would stake my life on their returning to Haiti, and that we needed to know people well enough to protect our credibility for the sake of all those other sick people, principally the children, that we needed to bring to them. She agreed to speak to Jay Smith and call me back by 11.
At that point I think Mr. Smith's probable awareness of the efforts and complaints of many people to help this child and mother came into play. At 8:30 came a call from J. Langston Duval saying the visas would be ready this a.m. Just bring the passports down as quickly as possible.
She added that they were doing this for me as an exception. This motivates me to write a final chapter to the State Department Inspector General about the ongoing flaws in the whole process because we cannot have occasional exceptions and spend such excessive and unnecessary labor on each request. I hope to get to that tomorrow and then on to Faustina.
Again, many thanks and blessings on all you and John do.
Rose
Things can change in a hurry, especially when Rose is on the case.
While much of this was going on, Dr. Paul Farmer e-mailed John that he was going to try to visit Father in jail. He did and was able to draw some blood and send it to a lab in Miami, which confirmed that Father has chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Now the pressure is really on to let Father out of jail—where he is being unjustly held anyway—so that he can receive appropriate medical treatment. Members of Congress, Amnesty International, doctors, Haitians, Americans, and family members are all vociferously calling for Father’s release. We hope and pray this happens soon.
I have booked the tickets for Raphaella and her mom to travel to Boston this weekend. It would be beyond cool if Father could be sprung from his prison at the same time that his parishioner Raphaella is being sprung, however temporarily, from her poverty.
Last March, John and I met Father Gerry Jean-Juste at his parish, St. Clare’s in a poor section of Port-au-Prince. We attended Mass there and were impressed by Father’s energetic and prayerful advocacy for the poor. At the end of Mass, Father had a little girl, Raphaella, who was badly burned on her face, arms, and torso, come up on the alter. He asked the congregation to help this six-year-old and her family, who had spent all their money on Raphaella’s care, when she was burned by an exploding propane tank. Raphaella’s skin was still healing; the scar tissue was hardening around her mouth and arm, making them difficult to move.
After Mass, we approached Father Jean-Juste and told him we would try to find a hospital in the States for Raphaella. Fast forward several months: thanks to a phone call I answered while in the shower from an angel I had never met named Keri, Raphaella was accepted by Boston Shriners Hospital. This fine institution agreed to provide her with surgery at no cost to her or us.
In the meantime, Father Jean-Juste was arrested on bogus charges and imprisoned. This is the second time Father has been imprisoned for no reason, other than advocating for the poor. We visited him in September and again in December. At the second visit, John examined Father, as the lymph nodes in his neck and under his arms were noticeably swollen. John participated in a press conference in PAP, arranged by American lawyer Bill Quigley, stating that Father was seriously ill and needed treatment.
Around the time of our second visit to Father, Rose, our friend in PAP, accompanied Raphaella and her mother to the U.S. consulate to apply for visas. The hospital required a legal guardian to accompany Raphaella. We had also thought it best that a parent be with Raphaella as she underwent what could be a painful and lengthy surgery and recovery. The consulate official granted Raphaella a visa but denied her mother, based on his belief that she would not return to Haiti.
Rose sent letters to the Inspector General of the State Department, the host family had their congress person contact the consulate, and we wrote the following letter asking the consulate to reconsider their decision.
To Whom It May Concern:
Haitian Hearts is sponsoring the trip of Raphaella Alexandre, a Haitian minor, to Boston Shriners for medical care, with her initial appointment on January 18. Raphaella was severely burned and will be having reconstructive surgery. Boston Shriners is requiring that one of Raphella's legal guardians accompany Raphaella to the U.S. for medical care.
The U.S. Consulate has approved Raphaella for a visa to come to the U.S. for treatment but denied a visa for her mother. We are respectfully requesting the consulate to reconsider this decision and grant Audanise Alexandre-Saint Felix a visa. Without her mother accompanying her, Raphaella will not be able to receive medical treatment. Raphaella and her mother will return to Haiti after the completion of Raphaella's medical treatment, and we will have them verify this by checking in with the U.S. consulate.
If you have any questions about this, please e-mail me at drjohn@mtco.com. Thank you very much for your help with this matter.
Sincerely,
John A. Carroll, M.D.
Medical DirectorHaitian Hearts
A couple days later, we received this disheartening response.
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 12:15:17 -0500
From: "PAP, NIV" <PaPNIV@state.gov>
To: "'Realname'" <drjohn@mtco.com>
Subject: RE: NIV for Audanise Alexandre-Saint Felix
Dear Dr. Carroll:
This is to inform you that Ms. Audanise Saint Felix Alexandre was determinedto be ineligible for a B1/B2 visa under Section 214(b) of the Immigrationand Nationality Act. This section of law stipulates that all nonimmigrantvisa applicants must satisfy the interviewing consular officer that they areentitled to the type of visa for which they are applying and that they havesufficient ties to their country of residence, to overcome the presumptionof being an intending immigrant as required by law. Therefore, we wouldsuggest that the family designate a temporary guardian who will travel andcare for Raphaella during her stay in the United States.
Regards,
The Nonimmigrant visa section
I was about ready to give up on getting Raphaella’s mom a visa. But that same week, I received the following letter from indefatigable Rose, our contact in PAP with the good news that both visas were being granted.
Dear Maria,
Both visas are for 1 year, until Jan. 12, 2007!
This will give the hospital a chance for more flexibility in the treatments if they think spreading them out is good, perhaps even an intermission at home in Haiti.
I received another message of refusal of a visa for Raphaella's mother late the day before yesterday, unsigned, expressing the same objections as usual, saying that based on the interview, the interviewer made an unalterable decision. This morning I started trying to reach Jay Smith at about 7:00. At 7:45, Jeanette Langston Duval, head of Non-Immigrant Visa Division answered his number and repeated all the arguments again at some length. I told her I had been present and there had been nothing resembling an interview. The interviewer told me he was not even required to read anything in the file. He knew that the woman was a high risk for returning to Haiti. I spoke of how familiar I was with all the circumstances and that I would stake my life on their returning to Haiti, and that we needed to know people well enough to protect our credibility for the sake of all those other sick people, principally the children, that we needed to bring to them. She agreed to speak to Jay Smith and call me back by 11.
At that point I think Mr. Smith's probable awareness of the efforts and complaints of many people to help this child and mother came into play. At 8:30 came a call from J. Langston Duval saying the visas would be ready this a.m. Just bring the passports down as quickly as possible.
She added that they were doing this for me as an exception. This motivates me to write a final chapter to the State Department Inspector General about the ongoing flaws in the whole process because we cannot have occasional exceptions and spend such excessive and unnecessary labor on each request. I hope to get to that tomorrow and then on to Faustina.
Again, many thanks and blessings on all you and John do.
Rose
Things can change in a hurry, especially when Rose is on the case.
While much of this was going on, Dr. Paul Farmer e-mailed John that he was going to try to visit Father in jail. He did and was able to draw some blood and send it to a lab in Miami, which confirmed that Father has chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Now the pressure is really on to let Father out of jail—where he is being unjustly held anyway—so that he can receive appropriate medical treatment. Members of Congress, Amnesty International, doctors, Haitians, Americans, and family members are all vociferously calling for Father’s release. We hope and pray this happens soon.
I have booked the tickets for Raphaella and her mom to travel to Boston this weekend. It would be beyond cool if Father could be sprung from his prison at the same time that his parishioner Raphaella is being sprung, however temporarily, from her poverty.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Press Conference in Port-au-Prince:
I forgot to mention that in between working at the clinic, attending to Jackson 24 hours a day, ministering to others who stop by in need of help, and ensuring that his wife is a happy Haitian visiter, John managed to attend and speak at a press conference last Thursday, coordinated by American attorney Bill Quigley. It was the usual: Amnesty International declared prisoner of conscience, Father Gerard Jean Juste, is sick with terribly swollen lymph nodes, which could mean a number of things. John has examined Father twice in prison, and with his permission made the results public.
John was so great at the press conference. He spoke in English and then in Creole. He said that Father is representative of many prisoners who are not receiving adequate medical care. John said that we love Father Jerry Jean-Juste and that we love the Haitian people. So true. C’est vrai.
Father Jean Juste has been jailed since July on the beyond dubious charge that he had something to do with the murder of journalist Jacques Roche. In reality, Father is a friend of Aristide’s an outspoken supporter of justice for the poor, and a possible candidate for Haiti’s presidential elections. The combination of these qualities make him in the words of a Haitian elite, “The most dangerous man in Haiti.” We are friends of Father’s and are very concerned about his health. This prompted John’s participation in the press conference at Father’s parish, St. Clare, and which you can read about in the AP article below.
Jean-Juste needs care in the U.S.
By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 15 (AP) -- A jailed Catholic priest who had been
considered a potential candidate for Haiti's presidency may have cancer and
should be released to seek medical treatment in the United States, his
lawyer said Thursday.
The Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, a supporter of ousted Haitian President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has declined an examination by government doctors
because he doesn't trust them, attorney Bill Quigley told reporters outside
the jailed priest's church in the capital.
Dr. John Carroll, a supporter who examined Jean-Juste in jail, said the
priest has swelling in his neck and under his arms and an abnormal white
blood cell count, which are possible indications of cancer or an infection.
"Every day that goes by, we are wasting time," Carroll said. "If this is
indeed cancer, his life is in danger."
Michel Brunache, chief of staff for interim President Boniface
Alexandre, said government doctors had examined the priest and said there
was no indication that he had cancer.
Jean-Juste has been jailed since July, when Haitian authorities accused
him of suspected involvement in the abduction and slaying of a well-known
local journalist. Authorities later expanded the investigation to include
alleged weapons violations. The priest denies the allegations.
The investigating judge, Jean Perez-Paul, has declined to reveal his
findings but said he will soon forward his recommendations to a government
prosecutor.
Jean-Juste, who has been compared to Aristide, a former priest, has
emerged as a prominent figure in the ousted president's Lavalas Family
party. Lavalas activists had attempted to register Jean-Juste as a presidential
candidate in elections, but Haitian authorities ruled he was ineligible
because he is in prison and could not appear in person to register his
candidacy.
Haiti's national elections are scheduled for Jan. 8.
I forgot to mention that in between working at the clinic, attending to Jackson 24 hours a day, ministering to others who stop by in need of help, and ensuring that his wife is a happy Haitian visiter, John managed to attend and speak at a press conference last Thursday, coordinated by American attorney Bill Quigley. It was the usual: Amnesty International declared prisoner of conscience, Father Gerard Jean Juste, is sick with terribly swollen lymph nodes, which could mean a number of things. John has examined Father twice in prison, and with his permission made the results public.
John was so great at the press conference. He spoke in English and then in Creole. He said that Father is representative of many prisoners who are not receiving adequate medical care. John said that we love Father Jerry Jean-Juste and that we love the Haitian people. So true. C’est vrai.
Father Jean Juste has been jailed since July on the beyond dubious charge that he had something to do with the murder of journalist Jacques Roche. In reality, Father is a friend of Aristide’s an outspoken supporter of justice for the poor, and a possible candidate for Haiti’s presidential elections. The combination of these qualities make him in the words of a Haitian elite, “The most dangerous man in Haiti.” We are friends of Father’s and are very concerned about his health. This prompted John’s participation in the press conference at Father’s parish, St. Clare, and which you can read about in the AP article below.
Jean-Juste needs care in the U.S.
By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 15 (AP) -- A jailed Catholic priest who had been
considered a potential candidate for Haiti's presidency may have cancer and
should be released to seek medical treatment in the United States, his
lawyer said Thursday.
The Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, a supporter of ousted Haitian President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has declined an examination by government doctors
because he doesn't trust them, attorney Bill Quigley told reporters outside
the jailed priest's church in the capital.
Dr. John Carroll, a supporter who examined Jean-Juste in jail, said the
priest has swelling in his neck and under his arms and an abnormal white
blood cell count, which are possible indications of cancer or an infection.
"Every day that goes by, we are wasting time," Carroll said. "If this is
indeed cancer, his life is in danger."
Michel Brunache, chief of staff for interim President Boniface
Alexandre, said government doctors had examined the priest and said there
was no indication that he had cancer.
Jean-Juste has been jailed since July, when Haitian authorities accused
him of suspected involvement in the abduction and slaying of a well-known
local journalist. Authorities later expanded the investigation to include
alleged weapons violations. The priest denies the allegations.
The investigating judge, Jean Perez-Paul, has declined to reveal his
findings but said he will soon forward his recommendations to a government
prosecutor.
Jean-Juste, who has been compared to Aristide, a former priest, has
emerged as a prominent figure in the ousted president's Lavalas Family
party. Lavalas activists had attempted to register Jean-Juste as a presidential
candidate in elections, but Haitian authorities ruled he was ineligible
because he is in prison and could not appear in person to register his
candidacy.
Haiti's national elections are scheduled for Jan. 8.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Letter From Prison: Father Gerry Jean-Juste
When we visited Father yesterday, he wrote a letter to his American attorney Bill Quigley. We have sent the letter to Bill. Father doesn't mind publication of the letter, so excerpts are below.
It’s great to have the visit of Dr. John and Maria today. I answered all their medical questions. . . I enjoy using my neck problem to keep the pressure on. . . So talking to Dr. John, I said my neck problem calls for attention and freedom. We use this phrase now: The Freedom Neck. It’s painful once in a while. I may live with it even though it diminishes my hearing some days. If I can use it to secure freedom for all the political prisoners and I, let it be. Do not worry too much when I say the truth about ache from the neck. The ache in Jesus’ body during His passion and crucifixion was hundred times more hurting. It’s nothing comparable. . .
As I am writing you today, my heart unfortunately is still bleeding. From my cell window, I watched some ugly events yesterday, the last day of Nov. 2005. . .
Early in this morning by 4 am more or less, the poor children, young ladies, and some young males, rush as usual everyday with usually two empty white jugs (a gallon each) to a pit half a mile north of the jail to get some water. They travel so far away from the top of Golgotha to the bottom pit for some water. It hurts me so much. Finally I yelled and talked to some close to my window cell and said, “Why don’t you come together and put pressure on the defacto gov’t so they can build a fountain or two near your place so you won’t pain so much to satisfy your thirst?” They were scared and walked away. This area is plagued with police headquarters and a jail. The repression keeps them docile, quiet. Oh, I remember Jesus yelling for some water while at the cross on the top of Golgotha. He said, “I am thirsty.” The soldier brought him vinegar. I breathe a little bit with the hope that maybe I may place a call for them with the next President. We never know. . .
The big event that makes my heart bleeding, the most touchy one for the day:
A (probably 8 month) pregnant woman- at 4 pm, I looked out the window, watching a pregnant woman leaning on a wall cross the street of my cell window. She was heartbreath. She laid on the wall with her 2 white jugs for almost 30 minutes without help. Facing south toward the mountain that she may have to climb, pitifully looking, she waits and waits. . . Meanwhile I call upon a cellmate Jack to find out what we can do for the woman. My emotion stops me from coming with a solution. I suffer, suffer, and still suffering as I’m writing these pages. The woman looks at the passer byers; no one offers help. Suddenly, she took her courage in hands and grabbed the two jugs, one in each hand and leaned upon the wall and made one step and two. I watched her going up the Golgotha. . .
Oh, Bill, Jesus was passing by and I was in awe not able to make any offering to him.
I forget, the Archbishop has taken away my priestly faculties.
Too bad. Too bad—
How long are we in Haiti going to thirst like Jesus and find no relief yet?
Let’s hope that some of God’s miracles may work thru us soon upon freedom, upon the return of democracy—
Keep up the good work! God’s Blessing always! Happy Holiday Season to you and all!
OUR GOD IS A LIVING GOD—
I SMELL FREEDOM COMING
THIS DECEMBER
&
WINNING OF THE ELECTIONS
BY THE PEOPLE
IN JANUARY
&
HAPPY HOLIDAY,
HAPPY HOLIDAY—
GOD WILL SHOW HIS
POWER THRU US ALL
Your brother,
Gerard Jean-Juste
When we visited Father yesterday, he wrote a letter to his American attorney Bill Quigley. We have sent the letter to Bill. Father doesn't mind publication of the letter, so excerpts are below.
It’s great to have the visit of Dr. John and Maria today. I answered all their medical questions. . . I enjoy using my neck problem to keep the pressure on. . . So talking to Dr. John, I said my neck problem calls for attention and freedom. We use this phrase now: The Freedom Neck. It’s painful once in a while. I may live with it even though it diminishes my hearing some days. If I can use it to secure freedom for all the political prisoners and I, let it be. Do not worry too much when I say the truth about ache from the neck. The ache in Jesus’ body during His passion and crucifixion was hundred times more hurting. It’s nothing comparable. . .
As I am writing you today, my heart unfortunately is still bleeding. From my cell window, I watched some ugly events yesterday, the last day of Nov. 2005. . .
Early in this morning by 4 am more or less, the poor children, young ladies, and some young males, rush as usual everyday with usually two empty white jugs (a gallon each) to a pit half a mile north of the jail to get some water. They travel so far away from the top of Golgotha to the bottom pit for some water. It hurts me so much. Finally I yelled and talked to some close to my window cell and said, “Why don’t you come together and put pressure on the defacto gov’t so they can build a fountain or two near your place so you won’t pain so much to satisfy your thirst?” They were scared and walked away. This area is plagued with police headquarters and a jail. The repression keeps them docile, quiet. Oh, I remember Jesus yelling for some water while at the cross on the top of Golgotha. He said, “I am thirsty.” The soldier brought him vinegar. I breathe a little bit with the hope that maybe I may place a call for them with the next President. We never know. . .
The big event that makes my heart bleeding, the most touchy one for the day:
A (probably 8 month) pregnant woman- at 4 pm, I looked out the window, watching a pregnant woman leaning on a wall cross the street of my cell window. She was heartbreath. She laid on the wall with her 2 white jugs for almost 30 minutes without help. Facing south toward the mountain that she may have to climb, pitifully looking, she waits and waits. . . Meanwhile I call upon a cellmate Jack to find out what we can do for the woman. My emotion stops me from coming with a solution. I suffer, suffer, and still suffering as I’m writing these pages. The woman looks at the passer byers; no one offers help. Suddenly, she took her courage in hands and grabbed the two jugs, one in each hand and leaned upon the wall and made one step and two. I watched her going up the Golgotha. . .
Oh, Bill, Jesus was passing by and I was in awe not able to make any offering to him.
I forget, the Archbishop has taken away my priestly faculties.
Too bad. Too bad—
How long are we in Haiti going to thirst like Jesus and find no relief yet?
Let’s hope that some of God’s miracles may work thru us soon upon freedom, upon the return of democracy—
Keep up the good work! God’s Blessing always! Happy Holiday Season to you and all!
OUR GOD IS A LIVING GOD—
I SMELL FREEDOM COMING
THIS DECEMBER
&
WINNING OF THE ELECTIONS
BY THE PEOPLE
IN JANUARY
&
HAPPY HOLIDAY,
HAPPY HOLIDAY—
GOD WILL SHOW HIS
POWER THRU US ALL
Your brother,
Gerard Jean-Juste
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Father Gerard Jean-Juste
We wound our way through the hills of Port-au-Prince up the road that Father Jean-Juste calls Golgotha to the Annexe Pententiare Nationale, where he has been incarcerated the last several months. The Haitian National Police and U.N. soldiers from Senegal patrol the prison. Father's health condition continues to be serious and, in fact, has worsened since September, according to Dr. John Carroll who examined Father then and also today (12-01-05). Father is need of a complete medical work up and a surgical intervention.
As to his legal and ecclesiastical situations, he is waiting to hear from authorities on both. A judge in Haiti has his dossier and is reviewing the information. This "review" has been going on for months now. As there is no evidence that Father has committed a crime of any kind, we can only believe that he is being kept in jail until after the elections, which keep being postponed. They are currently scheduled for January 8.
Though Father is eager to leave jail, he hopes to hear from Rome first about his status as a priest. He was recently told by the bishops of Haiti that he could no longer officially act as a priest. "It would be a great hardship on me if I couldn't say Mass after I am released from prison," Father said. He has little support from Catholic priests and bishops in Haiti or abroad. "Many of the Haitian priests who would be supporters of mine are dead," he said. Bishop Gumbleton from Detroit has visited Father and advocates for Father Jean-Juste's release.
Father's spirits continue to be strong; no one can keep him from God. The feeding program at his parish, St. Clare's is going full force, four days a week, feeding 750 people each time possibly the only meal they will eat that day. If you would like to donate to this absolutely vital cause, contact Margaret Trost at margarettrost@yahoo.com or visit the What If Foundation website at www.whatiffoundation.org.
Father appreciates the support he receives from people in Haiti and all over the world.
We wound our way through the hills of Port-au-Prince up the road that Father Jean-Juste calls Golgotha to the Annexe Pententiare Nationale, where he has been incarcerated the last several months. The Haitian National Police and U.N. soldiers from Senegal patrol the prison. Father's health condition continues to be serious and, in fact, has worsened since September, according to Dr. John Carroll who examined Father then and also today (12-01-05). Father is need of a complete medical work up and a surgical intervention.
As to his legal and ecclesiastical situations, he is waiting to hear from authorities on both. A judge in Haiti has his dossier and is reviewing the information. This "review" has been going on for months now. As there is no evidence that Father has committed a crime of any kind, we can only believe that he is being kept in jail until after the elections, which keep being postponed. They are currently scheduled for January 8.
Though Father is eager to leave jail, he hopes to hear from Rome first about his status as a priest. He was recently told by the bishops of Haiti that he could no longer officially act as a priest. "It would be a great hardship on me if I couldn't say Mass after I am released from prison," Father said. He has little support from Catholic priests and bishops in Haiti or abroad. "Many of the Haitian priests who would be supporters of mine are dead," he said. Bishop Gumbleton from Detroit has visited Father and advocates for Father Jean-Juste's release.
Father's spirits continue to be strong; no one can keep him from God. The feeding program at his parish, St. Clare's is going full force, four days a week, feeding 750 people each time possibly the only meal they will eat that day. If you would like to donate to this absolutely vital cause, contact Margaret Trost at margarettrost@yahoo.com or visit the What If Foundation website at www.whatiffoundation.org.
Father appreciates the support he receives from people in Haiti and all over the world.
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