Voodoo Recognized as a Religion in Haiti

August 3, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-voodoo3aug03,0,5089491.story

On August 3, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Adnor Adely... is excited by the recent government decree giving the centuries-old practice of voodoo the status of an officially recognized religion. Voodoo priests — houngans — like him will soon be authorized to perform any civil service a Roman Catholic priest can, officiating at births, marriages and funerals... 'Voodoo has done everything for Haiti. It gave us our independence, while the imported religions held us by the throat,' says Adely... Legitimizing voodoo has strengthened [President Jean-Bertrand] Aristide's image as a man of the people and has probably enhanced popular support for the rumored bid by the former Roman Catholic priest to amend the constitution so he can seek a now-prohibited third term as president."