the hierarch Miguel Marquezsuperior general of the Order of Carmelite Fathers, expressed his support and solidarity with the Catholic Church of Nicaragua and, in particular, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, after the raid on the Matagalpa Episcopal Curia perpetrated by the Police at the service of the Nicaraguan regime.
In a statement, the religious leader pointed out that the Nicaraguan Church is currently persecuted by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo “for being faithful to the gospel and for defending the dignity and freedom of every human being.”
Likewise, Father Márquez lamented the “violent” arrest against Monsignor Rolando Álvarez perpetrated by police officers in the early hours of this Friday, August 19.
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“With great pain we have also learned that Monsignor Rolando Álvarez Lagos, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, was violently captured by the Police. As Teresian Carmelites, “children of the Church”, We feel with great pain that the people of Nicaragua are deprived of another faithful servant pastor of the Gospel,” he said.
Given the situation of persecution experienced by the Church and the police state that persists in the country, the prelate of the Order of Carmelite Fathers asked his consecration “to Let us pray together, that we may be “merciful resistance” and persevering. Spirituality and prayer in Carmel are always a source of truth and courage to be with the Church, with those who suffer and with the poor».
“With the Discalced Carmelites, the Discalced Women and the Secular Carmelites we light our lamp asking for light, wisdom, humility and listening, for those who have the authority to serve to defend freedom and truth,” he stressed.
«Dear Church of Nicaragua, with Teresa de Jesús and Juan de la Cruz, with all the Saints of Carmel we want to invoke and ask for you the humble audacity and freshness of those who are among the people to give life and be sowers of seeds of brotherhood and reconciliation. We welcome your pain and your concern,” he added.
Father Miguel Márquez also insisted on praying “without giving up, without getting discouraged, so that in every town, in every country, in Nicaragua and throughout Latin America ways of peace, of dialogue, of respect, of coexistence in diversity, of faith and hope, may always be found, and the gospel continues to be a seed of peace in truth».
Similarly, he invited Monsignor Rolando Álvarez to be included in the prayers, “defender of human dignity in the name of Christ, so that his integrity is respected and that he be released immediately.”
Monsignor Álvarez, under “home protection”
After 15 days under siege and held in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa since August 4, the Police, under the orders of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, stormed the episcopal seat to remove Monsignor Rolando Álvarez.
Related news: Police raid the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa, kidnap Monsignor Álvarez
The Ortega Police reported that the hierarch is under the prison regime of house by jail in his parents’ home in Managua and seven of the eight people who accompanied him remain under “investigation” in El Chipote.
Meanwhile, the priest Óscar Escoto, pastor of the Santa María de Guadalupe church, remains in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa “without any mobility restrictions.”
The people who are in “El Chipote” are: the first and second vicar of the cathedral of San Pedro, of Matagalpa, José Luis Díaz and Sadiel Eugarrios, respectively; as well as the priests Ramiro Tijerino—rector of the John Paul II University—and Father Raúl González. Also the seminarians Darvin Leyva and Melkin Sequeira, as well as the cameraman Sergio Cárdenas.
