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We learned yesterday that Prime Minister Ariel Henry has decided to postpone the entry into force of the controversial penal code. At Tabernacle of Glory, we applaud this decision, but our fight is not over yet. We want a revision of the Penal Code.

In 2020, the publication of a new Haitian penal code provoked public anger due to certain articles that did not reflect Haitian customs. That same year, the Shekinah Ministry/Tabernacle of Glory, in collaboration with the Protestant Federation of Haiti (FPH), launched an online petition entitled "Legliz Pale" to protest this document.

This petition was a huge success, collecting more than 100,000 signatures in less than 48 hours. The majority had categorically said NO to this document, which, according to some experts on the subject, contains irritating, contentious, and even contrary to Haitian morality.

Aside from the church, many national sectors felt threatened, from the Association of Magistrates to the Haitian Bar Federation. Thousands of people marched in various Haitian cities to say no to the new penal code. The case made national and international media headlines.

Following the various demonstrations, revealed Pastor Gregory Toussaint of the Tabernacle of Glory, one of the largest Haitian churches in Haiti and the diaspora, a delegation from the presidency met with leaders of the Tabernacle of Glory to ask them what corrections they wanted to make to the document. This delegation included the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, Claude Joseph, and former Prime Minister Joseph Joute, who spoke by telephone. "A 300-page document summarizing our position and that of the petition signatories was given to them to share with President Jovenel. It was following this meeting that Mr. Moïse formed a commission tasked with analyzing, revising, and amending the penal code," he said. However, following the various events in Haiti, the penal code had taken a back seat.

Published in 2020, the new penal code was scheduled to come into effect this Friday, June 24, 2022. This quickly rekindled the debate and mobilization of the church and the Haitian population, demanding the postponement and revision of the said document. For over the past two years, it appears that nothing has been done to revise the penal code.

"The penal code cannot come into effect in its current state without the revisions promised by former President Jovenel Moïse," Pastor Gregory Toussaint declared last Wednesday, June 15, during a religious service as part of the Tabernacle of Glory's annual "40 Days of Fasting" event.

"The country is currently facing all sorts of problems: the high cost of living, insecurity, kidnappings, an assassinated president who has yet to find justice. The publication of this penal code is far from being the urgent need of the hour," he continued.

The leader of the Tabernacle of Glory acknowledged that the Haitian penal code, which has become obsolete, does indeed need revision, but he argued that certain elements introduced into the new document pose problems.

"The revision of the code itself does not pose a problem, but certain elements contained therein encourage or open the door to immoral practices such as incest, bestiality, child prostitution, illegal termination of pregnancy, and many others," the pastor stated.

The Church, he continued, is the conscience of the state. It constitutes the pillar and support of truth in every society. Its mission is to proclaim the truth. "The Church should not interfere in everything, but certain matters fall within the domain of the Church, such as the spirituality and morality of a nation."

Pastor Toussaint also expressed concern about the repercussions that the publication of such a penal code could have on the Haitian Church. He expressed his concern about one of the articles, which stipulates that pastors or religious ministers be imprisoned and pay heavy fines if they refuse services to people based on their sexual orientation. The pastor argues that this code grants privileges to a minority that wants to impose its rule over the majority.

"Postpone and revise" was Pastor Toussaint's motto, encouraging all Haitians last week to make it their rallying cry in the face of this situation. He also relaunched the Legliz Pale petition, which has since collected more than 180,000 signatures.