Religion is professed by almost all Haitians: According to the CIA World Factbook,1 the religious demographics of Haiti is as follows: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%.
Christianity
Catholicism
About 85% of the population claim Christian beliefs, and the most professed denomination by far is Roman Catholicism.23 Similar to the rest of Latin America, Haiti was colonized by Roman Catholic European powers. Following in this legacy, Catholicism is enshrined in the Haitian constitution as the official state religion, and between 80 and 85% of Haitians are Catholics. Pope John Paul II visited Haiti in 1983. In a speech in the capital of Port-au-Prince, he criticized the government of Jean-Claude Duvalier; it is believed that the impact of this speech on the Catholic bureaucracy in Haiti contributed to his removal in 1986.citation needed
According to the Catholic Church in Haiti, the ten dioceses of the two ecclesiastical provinces of Haiti count up to 251 parishes and about 1500 Christian rural communities. The local clergy has 400 diocesan priests and 300 seminarians. There are also 1300 religious missionary priests belonging to more than 70 religious order and fraternities. Vocations to the priesthood are plentiful.4
Other Christian Denominations
Several Protestant denominations are active in Haiti. The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti5 is the Anglican Communion diocese consisting of the entire territory of Haiti. It is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church (United States). Its cathedral, Holy Trinity (French: Cathédrale Sainte Trinité) located in the corner of Avenue Mgr. Guilloux and Rue Pavée in downtown Port-au-Prince, has been destroyed six times, including in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. It is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church (United States), with 83,698 members reported in 2008.6
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims more than 15,000 members in Haiti.7 The Eastern Orthodox Church has missions in Haiti.8
Voodoo
Main article:
Haitian VoodooThe New World Afro-diasporic religion of Voodoo is also practiced. Voodoo encompasses several different traditions, and consists of a mix encompassing African, European and indigenous Taíno religious elements. In this way, it is very similar to other Latin American syncretist movements, such as the Cuban Santería. It is more widespread in rural parts of the country, partly due to negative stigmas attached to its practice.
According to the CIA World factbook, about 50% of the population practice Voodoo.9
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith in Haiti begins with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as one of the island countries of the Caribbean being among the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to.10 The first Bahá'í to visit Haiti was Leonora Armstrong in 1927.11 After that others visited until Louis George Gregory visited in January 1937 and he mentions a small community of Bahá'ís operating in Haiti.12 The first long term pioneers, Ruth and Ellsworth Blackwell, arrived in 1940.13 Following their arrival the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Haiti was formed in 1942 in Port-au-Prince.14 From 1951 the Haitian Bahá'ís participated in regional organizations of the religion15 until 1961 when Haitian Bahá'ís elected their own National Spiritual Assembly16 and soon took on goals reaching out into neighboring islands.17 The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying mostly on the World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 21000 Bahá'ís in Haiti in 2005.18
Islam
Main article:
Islam in HaitiThere is a small Muslim community in Haiti, mainly residing in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien and its surrounding suburbs. The history of Islam on the island of Hispaniola (which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic) begins with the slavery in Haïti.
Many Muslims were imported as slaves to Haiticitation needed. Their Islamic heritage has persisted in the culture of native Haitians. In 2000, Nawoon Marcellus, a member of Fanmi Lavalas from San Raphael, became the first Muslim elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Haïti.
References
Notes
.svg)
