In 2024, the Catholic Church in Nicaragua faced 177 acts of hostility, an alarming situation revealed by the sixth edition of the report "Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church," presented by lawyer and activist Martha Patricia Molina. This number, although lower than the 321 incidents of the previous year, points to a silence and a fear of reporting these acts to judicial institutions. As Molina emphasizes, the decrease in attacks does not indicate greater freedom, but a climate of terror among clergy and laity, hesitant to report violence for fear of reprisals.
Since the beginning of the repression in 2018, the total number of aggressions against the Church has reached 971. Among these cases, 348 are directly linked to repressive actions against religious figures, including obstacles to the exercise of their mission. Between April 2018 and December 2024, 266 pastoral agents have suffered from this repression, of whom 51 have been expelled, 96 have been denied entry, and 71 have chosen exile. Major figures of the Church, such as the Apostolic Nuncio and three of the country's nine bishops, have been expelled. This includes notable bishops like Rolando José Alvarez of Matagalpa and Isidoro del Carmen Mora of Siuna, who were deported in January 2024.
The report also enumerates other forms of attacks, including 244 acts of violence or harassment, 101 cases of desecration, and 97 instances of repression against laypeople. It is also reported that since 2018, 11,763 popular devotional activities have been prohibited, and a majority of religious manifestations have not taken place, with the few that have occurred being restricted to within church walls. This repression has also led to the confiscation of 19 ecclesiastical properties and the closure of several educational institutions and media outlets linked to the Church.
Martha Molina raises the possibility of an increase in property confiscations, particularly after the regime's cancellation of 1,500 non-profit organizations, 46 of which could be of religious origin. This highlights the scale of the systematic persecution the Church is facing.
Despite these atrocities, exiled journalist Israel Gonzalez Espinoza notes in his introduction to the report that the situation of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua is a symbol of commitment and fidelity to the Gospel, even in the worst moments of repression. The Ortega regime, with all coercive means at its disposal, is attempting to erase the Catholic presence from the Nicaraguan social landscape. However, the courageous hierarchy of the Church and a people struggling for their faith are facing this state terrorism with dignity.
The current situation in Nicaragua is a true test of faith for the Church, a call to peaceful resistance in the face of threats. Members of the Catholic community, despite fear, continue to fight for their rights and dignity, thus illustrating the spiritual strength that remains within their mission. It is in this context of challenge and determination that the voice of the Church rises, demonstrating unwavering courage in the face of oppression.