15585: Slavin: Adrien Obituary AP/051403 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JPS390@aol.com

Obituaries in the News

.c The Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Antoine Adrien, a Catholic pastor whose
congregation was forced into exile by Haitian dictator Francois ``Papa Doc''
Duvalier, died Tuesday after complications from a stroke. He was 81.

Adrien was the superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers congregation in 1969, when
Duvalier forced him and his congregation into exile, accusing it of plotting
against his regime.

Members fled the country and after three years in the Central African
Republic, Adrien moved to New York City, where he was active in the
democratic opposition to Duvalier and edited Sel, a review written in French
Creole, the vernacular spoken by Haitians.

He returned to Haiti following the popular uprising that toppled Duvalier's
son and successor, Jean-Claude Duvalier, and was an active proponent of
liberation theology. He also was a fervent supporter of fellow clergyman and
now-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The army ousted Aristide in a coup in September 1991. During the three years
of repressive military-backed government, Adrien remained in Haiti, in
staunch defense of the elected government. U.S. troops restored Aristide to
power in 1994.

Adrien directed St. Martial Catholic seminary in the capital.

05/14/03 07:49 EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.