Monsignor Silvio Báez expressed his concern about the situation that Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, is going through, detained by the Ortega Police since August 19, after spending 15 days locked up in the Episcopal Curia.
“I am very concerned about the uncertain situation of my brother bishop, Msgr. Rolando Álvarez, who was illegally deprived of his liberty a month ago,” said the Auxiliary Bishop of Managua through his Twitter account.
Related news: Police lock up Monsignor Álvarez in his house in Managua and kidnap the other detainees in “El Chipote”
Regarding a possible exile to which the Bishop of Matagalpa may be subjected by the Ortega dictatorship, Báez affirmed that «Mons. Álvarez must not be forced into exile! He must be released immediately and return to his diocese!».
Since the arbitrary arrest of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, Báez has been one of the religious voices that has most condemned this new attack and has also demanded his immediate freedom.
«With an indignant and hurt heart, I condemn the nightly kidnapping of Bishop Álvarez. Those who know, tell where my brother bishop is! May his kidnappers respect his dignity and release him! Once again, the dictatorship once again overcomes its own evil and its diabolical spirit », the prelate wrote on his social network after learning of the kidnapping of his brother in faith.
Related news: Monsignor Báez to Monsignor Álvarez: “It is a light that shines in the darkness”
After 15 days under police 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. The Facebook page of the Diocese of Matagalpa confirmed on the 19th of the same month that police officers broke into the compound at three in the morning.
The institution, under the command of the presidential in-law and sanctioned commissioner Francisco Díaz, assured that this action was carried out to “recover normality for the citizens and families of Matagalpa,” although it was the Ortega police who besieged the area and prevented the parishioners attend religious activities.
The companions of the also apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, who were confined in “El Nuevo Chipote” are the first and second vicar of the cathedral of San Pedro, in Matagalpa, Jose Luis Diaz Y Sadiel Eugarrios, respectively; as well as the priests Ramiro Tijerino—rector of the John Paul II University—and Father Raul Gonzalez. Likewise, the same situation is faced by seminarians Darvin Leyva Y Melkin Sequeiralike the cameraman Sergio Cardenas. All of them, according to sources, have already had a trial hearing.
Monsignor Álvarez has been one of the most critical religious voices of the Sandinista regime. After his participation as a mediator in the failed dialogue table in 2018, the prelate has been subjected to siege, persecution and defamation, until the dictatorship kidnapped him. So far his situation is unknown.
