The auxiliary bishop of Managua, Silvio José Báez, assured that “today there are many politicians who manipulate and use religion”, they give thanks for the supposed blessings they receive”, but in reality they are “the fruit of political strategies and actions” that they carry out to “seize power and achieve their own interests,” he shared this Sunday from the parish of Santa Agatha in Miami, United States.
Baez, exiled since 2019—by the guidance of Pope Francis— he reflected on the parable of two men who went up to the temple to pray, a Pharisee and a publican; the first, he focused on himself, without paying attention to the selfish intentions of the heart and the second, he recognized his faults and God’s mercy.
The social reading of the gospel, said Bishop Báez, is found in politicians, who “are generally authoritarian and are not willing to recognize their mistakes and sins -like the Pharisee-. They practice the religion of “I”, demanding worship from their people, imposing themselves as little gods and using religion to justify their positions of power, their acts of corruption and their cruelty”, he expressed.
Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have imposed the cult of their personality since their return to power in 2007. Their faces are everywhere in a Nicaragua under a de facto police state since the Civic Rebellion of 2018.
Murillo thanks God during his daily speeches for what he calls works of progress, when in reality, they are used for Ortega propaganda. And at the same time, holds a hate speech against those who question them, including the Catholic Church.
“The believing politician, on the other hand, shows his faith in the just and good God, humbly acknowledging his mistakes and accepting his share of responsibility for the problems of society. Politicians who are authentically believers live by listening to God and to others, constantly examine their conscience, do not blame others for what they are responsible for, feel the need to convert and model their lives in the light of the gospel, ask for forgiveness and open themselves with confidence to the love of the Lord”, reflected Bishop Báez.
Nicaragua’s dictatorial couple, instead of recognizing their abuses against the people, maintain a repressive policy against any person or organization that questions their legitimacy in power.
In less than six months, eleven religious have been arrested, including Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, head of the Diocese of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Estelí -in jail two months ago-.
Two have been convicted of common crimes, and the rest – with the exception of Bishop Álvarez – were accused of “conspiracy” and “propagation of false news” for maintaining a prophetic voice and denouncing the human rights violations of the population in different parts of the country. country.
They have also caused a wave of exile of priests after the threats and police harassment against different parishes in the national territory. The Ortega-Murillos have more than 200 political prisoners in different prison systems, and 27 of these remain in isolation, incommunicado and tortured in the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ), El Chipote, despite constant calls from the international community to release them. .
Recognize yourself before the Lord
“Jesus teaches us that the prayer of the proud does not reach the heart of God, but the prayer of the humble opens it wide,” says Bishop Báez.
He reflects that “the Pharisee lives like a narcissist, with no desire to change, sure of being good and better than others. With his prayer he closes in on himself, deforms and belittles God. The publican, on the other hand, presents himself to God without deception or hypocrisy, he desires, hopes, and wants to be able to change, but not with his own strength but with the grace of the Lord”.
Based on the gospel, he calls on the parishioners to ask God for the “grace of knowing each other”, of not despising anyone, of feeling poor inside and in need of the Lord’s mercy, praying with empty hands and an open heart towards him.
