Religious Persecution in Honor of Pope Francis: The Untold Struggles of the Vodou Tradition

By Priestess Shoshana
Temple de la Luna & Spiritual Teachers Voodoo

The world paused in reverence upon the passing of Pope Francis—a soul who stood for unity, mercy, and the sacred responsibility to care for the Earth. He called his people to be stewards, not owners, of creation. He preached inclusion. He embodied humility.

His death echoed through the chambers of all who serve Spirit.

And yet, it is in moments like these that another truth rises—one that is not spoken aloud.
Why is the Vodou tradition, which also teaches care, compassion, and spiritual responsibility, demonized for doing the same sacred work?

Is it because we are not part of a Western religious canon?
Is it because we are women?
Is it because our ancestors speak in drums and smoke, not in cathedrals and marble?

The world often grants freedom of belief—but not freedom to thrive when those beliefs fall outside the boundaries of colonial approval.

The world often grants freedom of belief—but not freedom to thrive when those beliefs fall outside the boundaries of colonial approval.

What It Means to Be Ministers of the Mysteries

In Vodou, we do not claim titles for prestige. We are not self-appointed. The path chooses us. To be a minister is to be called—marked by the Guene, the sacred serpent, the cosmic womb. Our bodies become vessels for the divine, and our lives become offerings.

We are the ones who carry the sacred duty of clean possession, allowing the Lwa and Mystères to move through us in service of healing, revelation, and transformation. This is not a metaphor. It is a miracle—a daily occurrence for those trained to serve.

The Lwa are not myths. They are timeless forces—divine intelligences who restore balance, answer prayers, and rewrite fates.
Yet the Western mind, too often, mocks what it cannot understand.

The art of clean possession is dying in the public eye. It is misrepresented, laughed at, or feared. But for us, it is home. It is the center of our sacred work.

The Hidden Work of Spiritual Labor

Through the Vodou tradition, thousands of souls have been guided through despair and lifted from hopelessness. We have performed sacred weddings, birthed children into blessing, buried the dead with dignity, and healed the spiritually wounded. We have traveled to distant lands, lived in poverty, slept in temples and on bare floors to be trained by elders who carried the ancient wisdom in their breath.

We have received initiations, certifications, and over 10,000 hours of spiritual training. These accomplishments are visible through the offerings, courses, and mentorship provided by our spiritual house—Spiritual Teachers Voodoo.

And still, we are not granted the same rights or recognition that other faith leaders enjoy.

The Modern World’s Limitations on Ancient Traditions

We are not free to declare ourselves as clergy under many legal systems. We must call ourselves “life coaches” rather than ministers. We are required to label our handcrafted magical items as “entertainment purposes only.” We are forbidden from advertising services without risking legal action or societal retaliation.

In many places, our businesses are boycotted by other religious groups, and our lives are threatened simply because we walk with the spirits of our ancestors. We are denied sacred legitimacy—yet asked to perform miracles.

Spiritual Ethics in a Misunderstood Tradition

It is often assumed that Vodou is a tool for harm. We are asked regularly if we will curse or hex another in exchange for money. These requests are heartbreaking.

To use spiritual power for harm is a violation of everything we hold sacred. It is a grave sin—one that severs our connection to the spirits and dishonors our lineage.

We walk a path of integrity—guided by the ancestors, protected by the Lwa, and grounded in cosmic law.
And still, the hatred persists.

We Are No Longer Silent

We have carried this burden quietly for too long. The fear of persecution has forced many of us into the shadows. But the silence ends here.

We are building sacred institutions to protect our work. A spiritual university, an online sanctuary, and a permanent temple for those who follow the call of the Mystères. We are writing, recording, preserving, and teaching—so that our children will inherit not just trauma, but treasure.

If we practiced any mainstream faith, we would be shielded by law.
We would sit on interfaith councils.
We would be funded, protected, and praised.

Instead, we are dismissed, hidden, or criminalized.
Yet we endure.

A Future That Thrives

This is our declaration: We are sacred. We are chosen. We are here.
We will not beg for validation from systems built to exclude us.
We will take every ounce of our ancestral power and build a future where Vodou thrives—without shame, without fear, and without apology.

To those who have felt the same persecution, we say this: You are not alone.

The Vodou tradition has always held room for those who walk in truth.
Now is the time to walk together, in power, toward a future no longer bound by silence.