MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) _ An Idaho pastor has condemned child trafficking as a “wicked and evil practice.” He is defending members of his congregation detained in Haiti after they tried to bus 33 children into the Dominican Republic. Central Valley Baptist Church Senior Pastor Clint Henry told church members yesterday the Americans were trying to rescue children from an orphanage in the Haitian capital. Officials say they lacked the proper documents when they were arrested Friday night.

The church, in Meridian, confirmed five of the 10 Americans being held are from its congregation. Members were asked to pray for the detainees’ release to be decided at a hearing today before a judge. The children, ages 2 months to 12 years old, were taken to an orphanage run by Austrian-based SOS Children’s Villages, where spokesman George Willeit said they arrived “very hungry, very thirsty.” He said a 2- to 3-month old baby was dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. Willeit said an 8-year-old was crying and said she still had her parents.