"As I could not penetrate into the capital of Louisiana, without exposing the sacred character with — which I was invested, I thought it more prudent to commence the attack at those points of my diocese which were the least ably defended; judging that here, as in a citadel, I might assemble my forces, and gradually obtaining possession of the surrounding country, the strongest place would ultimately be compelled to yield."

"To protect and defend the family means to protect and defend oneself. There is no hope without the family."

"It is not the Church's task to decide on what action must be taken but violence must be stopped."

"The Church in America is not an institution which travels a path parallel to the world, She is a Church, present at the heart of the reality of this world. This Church, which walks to the same rhythm as humanity, shares the earthly destiny of mankind, of the marginalized, of the excluded, of those who live in precarious situations. The Church in America is discovering that this is the vision of Christ himself, who shows himself in the great labor of the gathering of mankind in communion."

"Too many people die in the country and God's righteousness will come true at all costs."

"We urgently need to put order in the administration in Haiti, if the country were well organized in ten years it would be rebuilt."

"Make our inner life become stronger, because only in this way can we meet God and discover solidarity towards others."

"The Haitian people are a people who have dignity, they want to get up. People need a helping hand. Enough talk about this ordeal. Enough with the controversies. This should be a time for reflection."

"Environmental problems frequently affect us here in Haiti and are a wake-up call. Our country is very vulnerable to natural disasters. However, I refuse to hear it called a cursed country. The Lord gave the earth to the children of Adam to till and cultivate it. Our happiness comes from something beyond, originating in the loving heart of the Creator. Geography alone cannot determine our happiness or unhappiness. On the contrary, we see ourselves as children blessed and loved by God."

"The Church is present practically everywhere in the country. Wherever you look around the country -- where poverty is rife, where violence is spreading, where catastrophes take place -- the Church is present and the church is a first responder, but the church also suffers because we too are a victim of these natural catastrophes."

"Destroying the country is not a solution. These demonstrations are a way to express frustration but it is not the solution. We have to find a way to talk."

"The Church in Haiti has a prophetic mission. She has to denounce the terrible conditions. And so it is quite possible that she is a thorn in the side of some of these politicians. But we can't know for sure... but everybody knows that our politicians make use of criminal gangs to control certain areas. The boundary between organised crime and politics is quite fluid."