Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santo Domingo (Agenzia Fides) – The Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, expressed his disappointment in regards to the report by the United Nations (UN) accusing the Dominican Republic of practicing racism and mistreatment against Haitians. On March 17, the UN published the report which, among other things, states that the Dominican Republic should "adopt comprehensive strategies to combat racism, including specific measures on the conditions and protection of persons of Haitian origin.” In this regard, Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez said in a note sent to Fides that the UN, instead of criticizing the Dominican Republic, should instead focus more on the solidarity and the speed with which the Dominican Republic's government has moved to help the Haitian people since January 12, when it suffered the earthquake.
In the same context, the former Secretary of the Dominican Republic Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Benito Angeles, said that everyone knows that the Dominican Republic's authorities immediately began working to help the people of Haiti and the hospitals on the border, in addition to the ones in the capital, were full of Haitians receiving first aid. Cardinal López Rodríguez and Archbishop Angeles expressed their position in the local press, after attending the signing of a transparency and ethics agreement for the 2010 elections, sponsored by the School of Electoral Formation of the "Junta Central Electoral” (JCE). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/03/2010)
