During the Christmas period, repressions against the Church in Nicaragua reached their peak. Authorities banned the public display of posadas, the popular living nativity scenes in the country, and several priests were arrested.
A bishop, two seminarians, and a total of fourteen priests, primarily serving in the Archdiocese of Managua, have been imprisoned.
Father Gustavo Sandino was arrested on the last day of the previous year, just after celebrating Sunday Mass. Meanwhile, six priests were arrested on the night of December 29, and the following day, police arrested two other priests serving in the capital's archdiocese.
Human rights defenders emphasize that those arrested were merely fulfilling their pastoral service, simply being among their people to consistently and freely preach the Gospel and provide necessary material aid, which is why they ended up in prison. Two of the arrested priests are ill and require medical assistance.
In recent days, five more priests and two seminarians were arrested, and the Bishop of Siuna, Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega, was detained after praying for the repressed Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos. The latter was sentenced to 26 years in prison without a proper trial, accused of conspiracy, spreading false news, obstructing the administration of justice, and contempt of authority.
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The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the increase in anti-ecclesial repressions, stressing that Nicaraguan authorities are violating fundamental freedoms, exacerbating the suffering of Nicaraguans, fueling the exodus of young people, and jeopardizing the future of democratic institutions in the country.
Opposition representatives note that the past year has been particularly difficult for the Church in Nicaragua, with 275 cases of various repressions, ranging from the closure of religious charitable organizations, schools, and Catholic media to restrictions banning pastoral ministry and a series of arrests of priests and bishops.
The crisis in Nicaragua erupted in April 2018 with mass protests against the regime of President Ortega, which deployed armed forces against the demonstrators. Hundreds were killed, thousands were injured, many were imprisoned, some disappeared or were forced to flee the country. The Church sided with the suffering and persecuted, to which the regime responded with a wave of repressions that continues to this day.
This article was originally published by Ekai and then translated by LeCatho | Original Link.