Government in Nicaragua Blocks Bishop and Lay People from Leaving Residence and Shuts Down Catholic Media



Bishop Rolando Alvarez and some lay people have been held in residence  police since August 4th, 2022. The bishop has criticized President Daniel Ortega and is accused of inciting violence to destabilize the country.  Police in a statement said the Church and Alvarez,  were "trying to organize violent groups and inciting them to carry out acts of hatred against" the government, saying that an investigation had been opened.   The 55-year-old bishop in a video released denounced this "harassment" and urged the government to respect religious freedom. Opposition protests in 2018 resulted in 355 deaths, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.  The Latin American Episcopal Council released a statement saying it joins the suffering that great
part of the people of Nicaragua and the Church.
Alvarez celebrated mass from the residence, and broadcast it live on Facebook. The government recently closed of ten Catholic radio stations. This followed the closure in June of several Catholic news channels. The European Union on Thursday condemned the "arbitrary" closure of Catholic and community broadcasters, and said "excessive police force was used to occupy the installations and to intimidate and disperse unarmed protesters." This amounted to "yet another violation of freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief," EU spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement. The Vatican has said that Nicaragua expelled its ambassador to the nation in March. A charity organization established by Mother Teresa was evicted in July. Source: France 24 and https://www.confidencial.digital/nacion/telcor-deja-caer-la-guillotina-contra-medios-locales-de-matagalpa/
 PRESS RELEASE
The Archdiocese of Managua expresses its closeness to the
Diocese of Matagalpa.
 
The Archdiocese of Managua expresses its closeness to Sister
diocese of Matagalpa, in particular with its pastor Mons. Rolando José
Álvarez and his priests before the women who are
living.
With the certainty placed in Christ the Good Shepherd, we want to evangelize
time and mistime, trusting that frank and respectful communication
They can open avenues of understanding.
We invite all the faithful to pray, to Christ, to Mary Mother of the Church
and Saint John Mary Vianney, patron saint and protector of the clergy, so that the
Word is announced and the pastoral ministry is fully exercised.
“And I am with you until the end of the world” Mt 28,20
Managua August 5, two thousand and twenty-two.
Archdiocese of Managua
CELAM Release: “WHEN ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, ALL MEMBERS
SUFFER WITH HIM” 1COR. 12, 26

Bogotá, D.C., August 05, 2022
The Latin American Episcopal Council joins the suffering that great
part of the people of Nicaragua and the Church that pilgrims in this beloved land, its faithful and pastors, in the face of the constant harassment that it has been suffering for part of government authorities.
 
Recent events, such as the siege of priests and bishops, the
expulsion of members of religious communities, the desecration of temples and the closure of spokes, they hurt us deeply. We express our
solidarity and closeness.
“There is nothing truly human that does not find an echo in the heart of
church. She feels intimate and truly in solidarity with the human race and its history” (cf. Gaudium et spes 1). That's why we accompany our brothers
that through different paths seek to be the voice of those who do not have a voice, to build
a dialogue capable of charting a path of unity and peace.
We want to remember the Word of God that in the midst of difficulties we
he says: “do not be frightened and dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you, where
want you to go” (Josh. 1, 9). That is why we invite all our brothers and
sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean to unite in prayer for the people
Nicaraguans, their leaders, authorities and the Church since “when a member
suffers, all the members suffer with him” 1Cor. 12, 26
  
 - * George Berries

Bishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte Bishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano
Metropolitan Archbishop of Trujillo, Peru Archbishop of San Juan de Cuyo, Argentina
President CELAM Secretary General CELAM
Av. Boyacá 4f 169D-75
San José de Bal neighborhood
PRESIDENCY Tel: +57 601484 580.
Bogota. DC, Colombia:
Source: https://www.facebook.com/suyapamedios.hn/photos/pcb.2221771791327580/2221770427994383/

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