Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741, 202-547-1735 

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- The group says it is now clear that the American missionaries were only trying to help needy children in Haiti and were not involved in human trafficking or kidnapping.

After meeting with the Haitian Ambassador Raymond Joseph, the Christian Defense Coalition continues to press for the immediate release of the ten missionaries jailed in Haiti.
 
See news articles:
Washington Post article
Christian Science Monitor article

The Christian Defense also wants to remind Haitian leaders and officials that the people they have labeled as "kidnappers" and "traffickers" are part of the Christian community that has given millions of dollars to help their country, opened schools, medical clinics, and orphanages, teaches their children and are now giving countless hours and dollars to help rebuild their country after the devastating earthquake last month.

The Haitian government should not make an "example" out of people who were only trying to help their country.

The Christian Defense Coalition in the past has worked with members of the Central Valley Baptist Church in Idaho on a variety of projects.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,

"We call for the immediate release of the ten American Christian missionaries now under arrest and jailed in Haiti.

"The purpose for their being in Haiti is now clear. They sacrificed their own security and comfort to help the needy children of Haiti after the devastating earthquake last month.

"It is obvious that these missionaries are not traffickers or kidnappers but simply caring Christians sharing the love of God in the most difficult of situations.

"They attempted to comply with local Haitian law, to the best of their ability, as they reached out to these 33 children. They were actually arrested as they were returning back to Port-Au-Prince to secure the necessary paper work for their charitable mission.

"It is important to remind Haitian leaders, who have called the missionaries traffickers and kidnappers, that they represent the same Christian community that has given millions of dollars to help Haiti over the years. These are the same kinds of people who have helped build schools, orphanages and medical clinics in that country and who are now on the ground rebuilding their country.

"We continue to ask the Obama Administration take a more aggressive stance in securing their release and publicly affirming that these Christian missionaries are not traffickers or kidnappers."

For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741 202.547.1735