New Orleans has gotten plenty of attention lately for the idiocy of her political leaders (a word we hesitate to use in this context, as they lack the qualities of true leaders). There are multiple reasons for the lack of good governance in the New Orleans political class, but one overrides the others in importance: the religious condition of New Orleans. It is in dire shape.

Yes, there is a traditional Christian presence in New Orleans – St Louis Roman Catholic Cathedral, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, etc. But there is a dark presence as well, very dark.

We illustrate with the Paranormal Conference in the City:

‘If you’re looking for something to do this weekend and you’re into the paranormal, may we suggest ParaCon in New Orleans’ French Quarter? Event Producer Jennifer Talley says it takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel today through Sunday.

‘“It’s a collection, an opportunity for people interested in the paranormal; ghost hunting, metaphysical things, to come and learn,” Talley explained.

‘Talley says the three-day event invites paranormal enthusiasts, investigators and history lovers to explore the unexplained.

‘“We have workshops to teach you about voodoo practices, vampire practices, ghost hunting practices, developing psychic abilities,” Talley noted’ (Joe Gallinaro ‘2026 New Orleans ParaCon, being held July 31-August 2, allows enthusiasts to explore the paranormal,’ louisianaradionetwork.com).

Religious pluralism and religious neutrality are nice theories on paper, but they obscure essential truths about the spiritual realm:

-There is no religious neutrality – good spirits and evil spirits are at work in every sphere of life;

-The practices we get involved with will either unite us with Good or with evil. Toying around with things like voodoo, witchcraft, and some of the other religions at ParaCon opens people to influence and possession by evil spirits.

Haiti is a good example of where getting entangled with demonic religions like voodoo will take a people. As Christianity has waned in New Orleans and corrupt religious practices like those on display at ParaCon have increased, she has predictably moved in the direction of Haiti-style chaos.

Constantinople is good example of the opposite: the spiritual and physical flourishing that occur when a people embrace Christ and the Holy Ghost is present. For 1,000 years she was able to exert tremendous influence – spiritual, political, economic, military – across three continents. One did not find the glamorization of sorcery and other dark arts. Rather, all of life was an unceasing act of worshipping God, honoring holy saints, and celebrating the miraculous works of God. This manifested itself in numerous ways. The beginning of August, for instance, was a great festival in honor of the Holy Cross of Christ:

‘On this day in accordance with custom there emerged from the palace of the emperor the honorable wood of the Cross and it was brought near to the Great Church. It was met by the second priest among the candlemakers (keroularioi) who held a censer and censed, and at first it was brought into the Small Baptistry, where there is a sanctification of the waters in the silver fountain, and then it is placed inside the Holy Altar of the Great Church, namely Hagia Sophia. From the Holy Altar the Cross emerges and is processed throughout all of Constantinople until the fourteenth of August. Then it returns again to the palace, where it is put in its place by the chamberlains (diaitarioi) and the great Papias.

‘This going forth and procession of the honorable wood of the Cross takes place because, during the coming fifteen days of August, many illnesses befall the people more than any other days of the other months. Thus the honorable Cross of the Lord is taken around the City, sanctifying the air by its presence, as well as the buildings and the alleys and the wide streets, bringing health to all those it passes, and to all those it approaches’ (‘Synaxarion for the Forefeast of the Procession of the Holy Cross,’ johnsanidopoulos.com).

It is noteworthy how the government of Constantinople was intimately involved in Christian events like that one:

‘”Another, closely related ceremony involving the True Cross is described in the Book of Ceremonies for the week before and the two weeks following August 1. Once again, the ceremony started between the third and sixth ode of Orthros in the skeuophylakion of the palace. After the relic was embalmed, it was taken to an unspecified church within the imperial palace, where it was displayed for veneration by the emperors. The relic was then taken to the Lausiakos, where it was set up to be venerated by the members of the senate. Afterwards, the Cross was taken to the church of St. Stephen, from where it was carried through each of the quarters of the capital to ‘cleanse and sanctify all places and houses of the God-guarded and imperial city; and not only the buildings, but also the walls of the city and its suburbs.’ When the relic returned from its journey on August 13, it was first brought to the Chrysotriklinos and placed on the imperial throne. Then, the papias, accompanied by the protopapas and the clergy, took the relic through the rooms of the imperial palace to cleanse and sanctify them as well. For a short while thereafter, the relic was kept in the oratory of St. Theodore, before the papias carried it back to the Church of the Virgin of the Pharos after Vespers. Here, the relic was received by the skeuophylax of the palace and returned to the treasury between the third and sixth ode of Orthros”’ (‘Feast of the Procession of the Venerable Wood of the Cross From August 1-14,’ johnsanidopoulos.com).

These are the kinds of things that made Constantinople a great power in the world. She was not perfect, but conditions were quite good there for much of her existence (4th century to 15th century).

To bring good government, safe streets, a robust economy, and other such benefits back to New Orleans, it will take more than bureaucratic/technocratic planning, well-drafted legislation, Flock cameras (which are dangerous in themselves), more police, etc. Ultimately, the foundation for all of these earthly benefits – the foundation of every good – is the life in Christ. Without that foundation, there will be little good in New Orleans’ future. Louisiana politicians, business leaders, think tank members, and all others who are intent on reforming New Orleans for the better must understand this truth and act on it.