tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post4213179062883399032..comments2024-02-15T03:32:25.686-05:00Comments on Preludium, Anglican and Episcopal futures: The Contested Episcopal Election in HaitiMark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871096746243771489noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-69659465882322546162018-08-28T20:53:58.393-04:002018-08-28T20:53:58.393-04:00Ezekiel 33 speaks of the sentinel as one who is ca...Ezekiel 33 speaks of the sentinel as one who is called to warn the people of God and invite them to repent and return to the Lord whenever they sin against the Lord. Ezekiel also establishes that the sentinel is duly responsible for the people’s demise if he fails to fulfill his ministry. As a priest, Fr. Delicat has been called to speak against injustice, corruption , and any types of evil. Unfortunately, Fr. Delicat failed to speak against the injustice to which certain clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti have been submitted. Furthermore, Fr. Delicat failed to take a stand against the well documented schemes that led to his selection as coadjutor. It’s true that the court of review cleared him of the allegations made against him in the recent contestation case. However, it remains clear that Fr. Delicat disqualified himself from being a faithful and worthy sentinel not only for not speaking against evil but also for trying to benefit from an unjust and rigged election. Therefore, Fr. Delicat does not qualify to serve as the shepherd of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti.PADhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13830750190687433830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-37580464897559898582018-08-28T20:47:13.994-04:002018-08-28T20:47:13.994-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.PADhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13830750190687433830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-44597342295793686582018-08-28T11:00:25.690-04:002018-08-28T11:00:25.690-04:00Open letter to all in position of responsibility i...Open letter to all in position of responsibility in TEC<br /><br />Where is the morality and the integrity of a candidate who accepts undue influence and coercion for his own benefit?<br /><br />It is astonishing that, after the findings of the Court of Review a few press agencies and articles seem to exonerate The Venerable Kerwin Delicat, who now seems to be waiting for approval as Bishop Coadjutor Elect of the Diocese of Haiti (that’s the way he signs his communication with the Diocese now). We have protested many times against those confused positions and we will protest until our voices are heard. <br /><br />Someone who associates himself with the tyrant and his tyranny, someone who was placed as the Dean of the Cathedral, and agrees to be the candidate of a corrupt party, finally, someone who prepared the electoral strategy, and is an accomplice of all those maneuvering in order to be elected, has no integrity to become the pastor in chief of the Diocese of Haiti. What did he agree to for the Diocesan Bishop to inflate the number of clergy by more than fifty percent so that his election could be guaranteed? What certitude did he have to provide a Bishop in disgrace among his own flock to receive such a huge support?<br /><br />The least we could expect of our pastor in chief is the ability to say no when evil forces want to use him for their own gain. The least we can expect of our pastor in chief is to have a strong backbone to resist the temptation of wealth, privilege, and prestige anticipated to come with the title of diocesan bishop. It is not what we have seen. The Venerable Delicat was unable to be a man of God, humbly waiting for a clean process and win, if this was the will of God. Had it been the case, we can guarantee the church that the Venerable Delicat would have been embraced by the laity and Clergy of the diocese, eager to see an honorable, honest and God-chosen leader step in and unify the diocese. <br /><br />To partake and support the maneuverings of his party and mingle with all the wrongdoings, removes all credibility and makes him unfit to lead the laity and Clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. <br /><br />We don’t need to tell you about the dirt and deceit that the diocese has been dragged through in this fabricated process and the ongoing actions of the Bishop assisted by his puppet. Just as the report of the court was being printed, the furnitures of the Cathedral were burned clandestinely in a service of deconsecration interpreted by the cathedral membership as a voodoo ceremony. The findings of the court of Review say it loud and clear: the process has been a failure. Our letter is to request that no Standing Committee and no bishop should support such a corrupt candidate for consecration. We cry for justice, and the Diocese of Haiti deserves justice. The truth will set us free and we are committed to get to the truth should we stay vigilant and standing. We can only wonder if the Jesus movement is just a mirage that does not defend the oppressed, but just pretends to be concerned. We are certain that the God of justice is standing on our side, not the side of the oppressor. <br /><br />Faithfully,<br /><br />The laity and committed Clergy of the Diocese. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-57135359546761025892018-08-09T16:21:18.418-04:002018-08-09T16:21:18.418-04:00Jesus will clear the church. I’m certain. Jesus will clear the church. I’m certain. Jean Filshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05321238450557852257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-92177916793944525112018-08-09T10:37:45.752-04:002018-08-09T10:37:45.752-04:00In your response to Fr. Nathanael you claim to spe...In your response to Fr. Nathanael you claim to speak because you are committed to the church and people of Haiti. I wonder which church and which people of Haiti! Although I have lived outside of Haiti for the greater part of my life, and although I have exercised my ministry outside of my native land, I remain concerned about what is happening in my homeland. I deplore the fact that some with hidden agendas dare to speak on behalf of Haitians when they know they are lying. It is a shocking and sad reality when we as church leaders refuse to condemn corruption, abuse of power, injustice, and evil in general. I know you are well aware that leaders at the highest level of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti have consented to the fact that they have submitted our church to a great deal of fraud and corruption. This is something that is well documented and of which you should be aware. You claim that Fr. Bazin presented a rebuttal to every article in the contestation document. I do not know the true reason why you decide to write about the recent events in the diocese of Haiti. I do not know why you decide to accept falsehood as truth. I do not know the true reason why you decide to get involved and why you have committed yourself to pass lies as truths. One thing I need you to remember: this is God’s church. We are only the stewards. One day, we will have to give account. I do hope and pray that at the end you can say with a clear conscience “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05499711965597086897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-15987343283403688362018-08-08T00:56:15.148-04:002018-08-08T00:56:15.148-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05499711965597086897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-83566962072087537082018-08-07T14:35:32.869-04:002018-08-07T14:35:32.869-04:00Dear Fr. Nathanael: First, I am glad we were prese...Dear Fr. Nathanael: First, I am glad we were present together at Cecile's celebration of life. Perhaps that is a sign of a greater unity than our words apparently show... <br /><br />You are quite right: I am not Haitian, not part of the Church in Haiti. So I don't speak for the church. I am committed to the church and people of the church in Haiti and write from that standpoint. <br /><br />I resent the suggestions of your last two paragraphs. I am not defending a false and fake nationalism. I am certainly not a White messiah. I don't walk on water. And I certainly am not your savior. <br /><br />Archdeacon Fritz Bazin has written several observations that I though needed to be included in the wider conversations about the election. I am glad to have published them, putting them in the context of the election news that was available in the US. <br /><br />Obviously we see these matters very differently. You might know that you are not likely to change my view by using words like "false", "fake" and by throwing out the bait of the phrase "White messiah." <br /><br />MMark Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871096746243771489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-70591381215131490832018-07-25T12:52:20.496-04:002018-07-25T12:52:20.496-04:00Dear Fr. Harris,
We met briefly a couple of times...Dear Fr. Harris,<br /><br />We met briefly a couple of times, very recently at Cecile François’ celebration of life in what has become now the place of worship known as Cathédrale Ste Trinité. I am really perplexed that you have all the facts and have the authority to speak on behalf of HAITIANS or the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. Maybe your friendship with Fr. François and Archdeacon Bazin can explain your stand. But the “mostly healthy” church that you seem to advocate for IS NOT healthy for the majority of oppressed Haitian Episcopalians. <br /><br />You are asking your readers that TECUSA stay away from what is going on in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. All other dioceses in TEC are required to adhere to the rules and regulations so why should The Diocese of Haiti be an exception? Last time I looked, you are not HAITIAN. Who and what is your personal motivation not to consider other sources besides Bazin? What should be expected from Archdeacon Bazin, who was made a canon by the current bishop (Fr Lafontant must be turning upside down in his tomb)? I wonder if the “Council of Archdeacons” of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti will send you a letter asking you to mind your own business, the same way they did for Fr. Duvert, a Haitian born Episcopal priest of the Diocese of New York who wrote to denounce the corruption he saw? I wonder what privileged information you have to find a Diocese healthy when the diocesan bishop himself signed an acknowledgment of mismanagement, corruption and violations of canon law? A diocese not trusted by any serious contributors and is still not funded for post earthquake rebuilding due to the lack of credibility of its leadership?<br /><br />It appears that your writing talents have been hired by one side to discredit the valid points of the other and it’s about time you understand that if the church of Haiti is different, the church of Haiti should be held accountable to up-to-date business practices and standards. Your solidarity with your friends is admirable, but your behavior in itself is tinted with the same paternalistic behavior that you seek to denounce. <br /><br />The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, under the leadership of the current bishop, have shown to the world an inability to conduct business with competence, ethics and savoir faire. The solutions are clear ahead. We will not pretend to be nationalistic when the church is seeking a provisional bishop, probably white, probably not Haitian, when we are not nationalistic for every project financed by TECUSA, a budget supported by TECUSA, so many parishes sponsored by parishes in USA. We just have to survey the many school, church and healthcare facility buildings owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti to understand that the money, squandered by this administration, belongs to the American taxpayers and church donors. The nationalism you defend is just false and fake. <br /><br />If you really want to allow us to be masters of our destiny, stay away from this process and don’t try to be a White messiah rescuing a crew in their sinking boat. You can’t walk on water. You’re not our savior. <br /><br />Peace be with you<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05978792689652854161noreply@blogger.com