Priest, six brothers kidnapped in Haiti

(CMC) – An investigation is underway following reports that a priest and six brothers from the congregation of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Haiti were kidnapped by armed individuals on Friday morning.

The men were reportedly headed to the mission of the Jean XXIII School in the town of Bicentenaire.

“We pray for their release and for an end to this scourge of insecurity,” said members of the Brothers of three Sacred Heart in a statement.

They also said that the Jean XXIII school is the only one still operating in the risk zone in the centre of the capital Port-au-Prince.

The statement added that the kidnappers are demanding a large ransom in exchange for their release.

“Kidnappings of clergy are becoming more and more frequent when it is not a question of the faithful kidnapped under threat in churches during religious services or even of priestesses killed,” the statement said.

According to statistics from the United Nations, gangs have been blamed for the kidnappings of nearly 2,500 people last year, a more than 80 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

The police remain overwhelmed and underfunded, with less than 10,000 active officers at a time in a country of more than 11 million people.

(SOURCE: CMC)