The Haitian Cardinal Mgr Chibly Langlois described voodoo as a "major social problem" for Haiti, arguing that this religion offers the "magic" but no real solutions to a population deprived of justice and political voice.

Mgr Langlois Chibly binds the belief system of Haiti, to its chronic political problems, which, according to him, forcing the poor Haitians to seek supernatural solutions.

"If a person is well educated and has the financial means, they will go to a doctor [instead of the voodoo priest] when they get sick. If that same person went to the court to get justice they would not go to the voodoo priest to get revenge. It's a big problem for the church. And for Haiti."

Recalling that about 80% of Haitians are Catholic and that almost half of the population also practices voodoo, although many do not do so in public. "That's why voodoo ceremonies are conducted at night–time. They are ashamed to say they practise it."

Mgr Langlois declared that Haitians can not follow both religions "The church cannot, and does not, ignore the cultural elements and uses of voodoo, like the drum, the rhythm, the way of singing. But you can't be voodooist and Catholic. The Catholic should be pure Catholic; the voodooist should be pure voodoo."

SL/ HaitiLibre