Editing Toussaint Louverture (section)

== Views and stances ==

===Religion and spirituality===
Throughout his life, Louverture was known as a devout [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], p. 194.</ref> Having been baptized into the church as a slave by the Jesuits, Louverture would go on to be one of the few slaves on the Bréda plantation to be labeled devout. He celebrated [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] every day when possible, regularly served as [[Godparent|godfather]] at multiple slave baptisms, and constantly quizzed others on the [[catechism]] of the church. In 1763 the Jesuits were expelled for spreading Catholicism among the slaves and undermining planter propaganda that slaves were mentally inferior. Toussaint would grow closer to the [[Capuchin Order]] that succeeded them in 1768, especially as they did not own plantations like the Jesuits. Louverture would also go on to have two formal Catholic weddings to both of his wives once freed. In his memoirs he fondly recounted the weekly ritual his family had on Sundays of going to church and enjoying a communal meal.<ref name=":3" />

Although spending most of his life as a member of the Catholic faith, Louverture's early life included aspects of the Vodou religion. Vodou was common among slaves in Saint-Dominque as it was passed down through black communities of Allada origin. Characteristics of the Vodou belief include a link between spirits and herbs used for medicine. Historian and author Sudhir Hazareesingh writes: "Toussaint undoubtably made this connection, and drew upon the magical recipes of sorcerers in his practice of natural medicine".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hazareesingh |first=Sudhir |title=Black spartacus: the epic life of Toussaint Louverture |date=2020 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-11266-0 |edition=First American |location=New York}}</ref>  Louverture was regarded as a doctor for some time during his travels across the colony which aided in his process of generating a following among those in Saint-Dominque in the earlier years of Louverture's adult life.

After defeating forces led by [[André Rigaud]] in the [[War of the South]], Louverture consolidated his power by decreeing a new constitution for the colony in 1801. It established Catholicism as the [[state religion|official religion]].<ref name=":5" /> Although [[Haitian Vodou|Vodou]] was generally practiced on Saint-Domingue in combination with Catholicism, little is known for certain if Louverture had any connection with it. Officially as ruler of Saint-Domingue, he discouraged its practice and eventually persecuted its followers.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 56, 196.</ref>

Historians have suggested that he was a member of high degree of the [[Masonic Lodge]] of Saint-Domingue, mostly based on a Masonic symbol he used in his signature. The memberships of several free blacks and white men close to him have been confirmed.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], p. 63.</ref>