Fiery Priest May Seek Haiti's Presidency

[seemslikeadream]

By STEVENSON JACOBS Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Apr 4, 2005 — Supporters call him Haiti's Martin Luther King Jr., a fiery Roman Catholic priest who electrifies the masses with populist sermons urging social equality and nonviolent protest.

The U.S.-backed interim government recently accused him of inciting violence and hiding gunmen loyal to ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, jailing him for weeks before freeing him because of a lack of evidence.

The mix of praise and condemnation has only fueled beliefs that the pro-Aristide Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste will seek Haiti's presidency in fall elections a move that could re-ignite tensions with the United States.

Some among Aristide's Lavalas Family Party, including Jean-Juste, say they won't contest elections until their fallen leader whom they claimed was deposed in a U.S.-backed coup returns from exile in South Africa and dozens of his jailed allies are released at home.

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http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=639042

[MADem]

1. He'll have to leave the priesthood

...unless they are planning on going back on JP2's express edict prohibiting political activity by priests, bishops and cardinals. The only one who can get political is the Pope, according to current instruction. He forced Congressman/Father Drinan (big antiwar activist back in the day) to leave his seat, and that guy didn't have to spend a cent to get reelected. He was hugely popular.

[TaleWgnDg]

2. My thoughts, exactly, MADem . . . n/t