By Rev. Donald K. Stewart, Contributor 
Donald Stewart
THE RECENT Haitian crisis generated a wide variety of reactions, from sympathy to hostility, among our high-spirited Jamaican people. We, as one of their nearest Caribbean neighbours, certainly have a responsibility to extend a helping, humanitarian hand to our fear-stricken Haitian brothers and sisters. This is irrespective of what is happening to our own economy.
Many have risked their lives travelling hundreds of miles (or kilometres) across rough, shark-infested waters in a desperate bid to escape civil war, in search of hope and a future. The Government and people of Jamaica, I believe, are morally bound to provide any form of assistance possible, as we seek to be a meaningful part of their ongoing solution. To sit back and watch this situation, critically analysing its politics, but without any real practical involvement in rescuing lives, would be to display the greatest levels of insensitivity, selfishness, arrogance and hypocrisy.
There is, however, a significant aspect of this crisis that has been inadvertently ignored, but which continues to have deep, far-reaching consequences for the people of Haiti, even more than their politics and economics. I speak of the voodoo factor, which I believe, is at the heart of the problem.
Voodoo identifies Haiti in the same way that reggae music is synonymous with Jamaica, or the calypso rhythm with Trinidad. While not every Haitian is a voodoo practitioner, it cannot be denied that this religion has been permanently rooted in its culture, and has been officially (and repeatedly) endorsed by its successive governments.
RITUALS AND BLOOD SACRIFICES
The practice of voodoo (like obean, shango Baptist, santeria or winti) entails the recognition and veneration of a host of so-called ancestral and territorial spirits, through strange rituals and blood sacrifices. These 'luas', as they are called, are summoned and manipulated by voodoo priests (hougans) in order to protect, guide, heal, prosper, avenge and empower those who need 'spiritual help'... at a price, of course.
The Bible unapologetically categorises such practices as detestable or abominable. In Deut. 18:9-14, for example, we read: "... Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practises divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium, or spiritist, or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord..."
The New Testament writings (Acts 8:9-24, 13: 4-12, 16:16-18, 19: 13-20, Rev. 9: 20-21, 21:8, 22:15) all confirm God's unchanged position against practitioners of the occult world.
There is no way that we (whether individually or corporately) can deliberately spurn God's Word and then hope to prosper, living happily ever after. The scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, was certainly correct when, in his Third Law of Motion, he concluded: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." The Haitian people cannot continue to embrace or sanction voodoo and simultaneously expect to receive the blessings of God's health, wealth and peace.
BLOOD SACRIFICES
History informs us that (at various times) blood sacrifices have been publicly offered in Haiti by high-ranking government officials, in order to ensure protection and prosperity for both themselves and the nation. Was it not in recent years that Mr. Aristide himself officially endorsed voodoo as an accepted religion in that country? Is it not true that Roman Catholicism and Haitian Voodoo continue to enjoy an intimate love relationship in that nation. Are we really willing to search for solutions?
The 'perpetual poverty' and the bloody political upheavals that seem to characterise the Haitian landscape obviously point to unchallenged, deep-rooted spiritual strongholds. How does one explain that a Caribbean country, which has known independence longer than most (if not all), still continues to be the poorest and most unstable nation in the whole region? This has to be more than simply a matter of economic, political or personality issues... don't you think?
It is my conviction that as long as voodoo is practised, and officially condoned in Haiti, then there will be no real, permanent change in the plight of its people or its image as a nation. Leaders will come to power, frustrate the people, exploit the resources, create havoc and leave... and the vicious cycle will continue endlessly. If there is no spiritual understanding or the will to renounce the abomination of voodoo, then 'the more things change, the more they will remain the same.'
SPIRITUAL SCREENING
Our Jamaican Government and people who have lovingly adopting the Haitian family must, therefore, understand the underlying spiritual principles. We ought not to stop helping our neighbours in distress, but we need to have spiritual discernment, or we may be producing yet another crisis for our
own people.
It is interesting to note how seriously the immigration and health officials function in screening our surprise visitors. I wonder if there is any corresponding 'spiritual screening' being done by the Christian churches and ministers along our Jamaican coastline. Would this be expecting too much?
With the arrival of Mr. Aristide, as a special guest of our Government, has any considerations been given to the 'spiritual viruses' that may be further released into the Jamaican atmosphere? While we debate whether or not he should be here, and for how long, could it be that there are even more pertinent, unseen, spiritual issues confronting us? I wonder what would be the perspectives of the high-ranking ministers of the Gospel in our country. Any insights?
It may also be valuable, I believe, for us to reflect on our own occult involvements as a Jamaican people. Could it be that there may also be a co-relation between our deep-rooted obeah (and lodge) involvement and our inability to significantly progress as a nation? For a people possessing so much talent, creativity, passion and intelligence, we certainly have been stagnating in a pool of unproductivity.
I know that it is much easier to blame the Prime Minister, the Government, the Opposition parties, the economy, globalisation, or some other pet subject, but could it be that we also need to examine our own spiritual roots? Is it possible that, as we take seriously, 'the missing piece of the Haitian puzzle', then we may learn some valuable lessons about our own condition? I trust that this will lead to genuine repentance.
The Rev. Dr. Donald K. Stewart pastors the Portmore Lane Covenant Community Church.
E-mail: covcom@colis.com
