Nicaragua: Government targets Catholic leaders

Under house arrest - Bishop Rolando Álvarez. Image: ACN

Source: CSW, Vatican News, CELAM

A Catholic priest and a bishop have been targeted in the Department of Matagalpa by the Nicaraguan authorities. Father Uriel Vallejos was surrounded and forcibly confined to a parish house in the city of Sébaco by the police and paramilitaries from 1 August until late morning on 4 August.

In a separate incident, in the city of Matagalpa, Bishop Rolando Jose Álvarez has been held under house arrest by security forces since 4 August.

The police actions followed an order for the immediate halt of transmissions by six Roman Catholic radio stations in the Department of Matagalpa on Monday 1 August, issued by Nahima Díaz, executive president of The Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Post Office (TELCOR). The forced closure was based on a claim that the stations have not held valid authorisations dating back to 2003. These claims were refuted by Roman Catholic officials who pointed out that Bishop Álvarez had provided the required documentation to TELCOR in June 2016, but that his requests for official acknowledgement went unanswered.

On 1 August, police accompanied by paramilitaries stormed the Infant Jesus of Prague Chapel, part of the Jesus of Divine Mercy Parish in Sébaco, in order to confiscate radio and television equipment inside the church. Worshippers inside the church attempted to stop the police from entering and at least two were injured. Fr Vallejos and a number of worshippers took refuge inside the parish house adjacent to the chapel and were then blockaded inside by the security forces until late morning on 4 August when the security forces withdrew and the priest escaped and went to an undisclosed location. During the blockade, the priest, who is diabetic, subsisted on bread and water.

The same day, on 4 August, in the city of Matagalpa, heavily armed security forces surrounded the curia of the Matagalpa Diocese, blocking Bishop Álvarez inside and preventing anyone outside from entering. In response, the bishop approached the security forces, singing and praying for the officers and asking them to reconsider their actions. Bishop Álvarez was not permitted to leave the curia in the afternoon to officiate Mass in the Matagalpa Cathedral and CSW report that he is still blockaded inside.

Both Fr Vallejos and Bishop Álvarez have a history of being targeted by the government. The closure of the six radio stations follows the forced closure of Roman Catholic run television stations in May and June.

CSW's Head of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl said: "We condemn the unjustified attacks by the Nicaraguan government on these two religious leaders and call for the immediate withdrawal of all security forces from religious buildings in Matagalpa Department. We call on the international community to make it clear to the Nicaraguan government that these attacks, serious violations of freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, are unacceptable. The courage of Mgr Alvarez and Fr Vallejos, and the example set by the bishop in particular, in attempting to engage in peaceful dialogue with members of the security forces are admirable and CSW stands with them and all those in Nicaragua who continue to stand for democracy and respect for fundamental human rights."

In a statement released on Sunday, the Nicaragua's Catholic Bishops express their fraternal closeness to Bishop Álvarez.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Nicaraguan Bishops say their hearts are touched by the plight of Bishop Alvarez, remarking that the Church "proclaims the Gospel of peace" and, in this light, is always open to collaboration with national and international authorities.

As the Nicaraguan Church celebrates the National Marian Congress, from 7 to 15 August, the bishops invited the faithful to pray and recite the Rosary, invoking Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of Nicaragua.

The Archdiocese of Managua also sent a message of "closeness" to Bishop Álvarez and the Church of Matagalpa "in the face of the difficult circumstances they are experiencing" as a result of the police action, expressing hope that "frank and respectful communication" may open "paths of mutual understanding".

At the same time, the archdiocese led by Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, vice president of the CEN, invited the faithful to continue to pray so that "the Word may be proclaimed and the pastoral ministry may be exercised to its full extent."

Several more Latin American Bishops have voiced their solidarity with the Church in Nicaragua, alongside the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), which on Friday called on the faithful in Latin America and the Caribbean to join in prayer for the Church in Nicaragua and its authorities.

The president of the Episcopal Conference of Honduras, Bishop Roberto Camilleri, echoed CELAM's position by underlining in a letter shared by the Nicaraguan bishops on Facebook that "freedom of expression is a fundamental pillar that guarantees the existence of a democracy" and stressed their "solidarity and spiritual closeness."

Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez also expressed his personal closeness to the Church in Nicaragua during Mass on Friday.

In his homily, the Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador said that "martyrdom continues to be a reality today" and that that "one of the most horrendous examples in the region is the persecution suffered by the Church in Nicaragua."

The Bishops' Conference of Costa Rica expressed its "most sincere solidarity" and called for dialogue in Nicaragua.

The Bolivian Bishops' Conference (CEB) has also asked not to give up the effort to "build a dialogue aimed at achieving unity and peace in Nicaragua", pledging prayers for the Church, the people and the political authorities of the country.