The Honduran Catholic Media Association (AMECAH) condemned the escalation of repression against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, who ordered the closure of at least eight radio stations run by the Diocese of Matagalpa and has surrounded the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa, where Monsignor Rolando Álvarez is found, one of the bishops most persecuted by the dictatorship.
In a letter, the Honduran organization expressed its “deep solidarity in the face of the latest events that our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters are experiencing, including the recent closure of radio media, including seven Catholic radio stations.”
“As media of the Catholic Church we send this fraternal letter to our Nicaraguan brothers dedicated to communicating, and we motivate them to stay united and strengthened, based on the universal principles of freedom of expression and the importance of this right in social functioning” , he highlighted.
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On August 1, the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship, through the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Post Office (Telcor), ordered the “immediate” closure of Radio Hermanos, Radio Santa Lucia, Radio Católica de Sébaco, Radio Nuestra Señora de Lourdes , Radio Nuestra Señora de Fátima, Radio San José and Radio Monte Carmelo.
Since that date, the dictator has launched a frontal offensive against the Catholic Church and its main religious leaders., who have been victims of virulent attacks. Similarly, there have been recorded attacks, prison, persecution, siege, desecration against the same parishioners.
In addition, the Honduran media association stressed that “Catholic media are means of evangelization, carriers of hope, education and information.”
He also stated that “as Catholic media in Honduras, we encourage dialogue so that the radio stations resume their operation and echo the words that Pope Francis addressed to journalists about freedom of expression: “People They not only have the freedom, the right, but also the obligation to say what they think to collaborate for the common good.
“We raise our prayer close to the Nicaraguan church and people, trusting in the intercession of the Immaculate Conception of Mary so that peace, dialogue, justice and truth may prevail,” he added.
Human rights organizations and opposition groups have condemned the attack, maintaining that “Ortega discharges hatred and revenge against the Catholic Church”.