The Archdiocese of Managua, which administers 118 parishes in the departments of Managua, Masaya and Carazo, announced a rotation of religious as parish priests and administrators in eight churches. These changes occur in one of the most tense moments in the null relations between the Catholic Church and the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
The dictatorial couple ordered a persecution against the Church, this includes the siege of temples and religious, the imprisonment and prosecution of a dozen priests, seminarians and laity. It has also expelled nuns from various religious orders of Catholicism.
This persecution has forced several priests to leave the country to protect their integrity and avoid being imprisoned.
The bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, has been locked up for more than 50 days, first in the episcopal see and later in his home in Managua, under police custody without any official report of any accusation against him.
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These are the changes announced by the Archdiocese of Managua:
- Presbyter Julio César Porras, who served as parish priest in the Parroquia Nuestro Señor de Veracruz in Los Rincones, Masatepe, Pastoral Zone of Carazo, is appointed Pastor of the Parroquia San Juan Bautista in Masatepe, Pastoral Zone of Masaya.
- Priest Juan Antonio Calero, who served as Pastor in the San Juan Bautista Parish in Masatepe, Masaya Pastoral Zone, is appointed Pastor of the Santa Teresa de Jesús Parish, Carazo Pastoral Zone.
- Priest Henry Alberto Moreno, who served as Parish Priest in the Santa Teresa de Jesús Parish, Pastoral Zone of Carazo, is appointed Parish Priest of the Nuestra Señora de la Merced Parish in Mateare, Western Pastoral Zone of Managua.
- Presbyter Carlos Aguirre, who served as Pastor in the Nuestra Señora de la Merced Parish in Mateare, Western Pastoral Zone of Managua, is appointed Pastor of the San Juan Bautista Parish in La Concepción, Masaya Pastoral Zone.
- Priest Melvin Gutiérrez, who served as Pastor of San Juan Bautista in La Concepción, Pastoral Zone of Masaya, is appointed Pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Masachapa, Western Pastoral Zone of Managua.
- Priest Jerry Gutiérrez, who served as Pastor in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Masachapa, Western Pastoral Zone of Managua, is appointed Pastor of the Our Lord of Veracruz Parish in Los Rincones, Masatepe, Pastoral Zone of Carazo.
- Priest Brayan Chamorro, who served as Parochial Vicar in the La Purísima Parish, Masaya Pastoral Zone, is appointed Parish Administrator of the San Juan Bautista Parish, Masaya Pastoral Zone.
- Priest Félix Herrera, who served as Parochial Vicar in the Santa Ana Parish in Niquinohomo, Masaya Pastoral Zone, is appointed Parish Administrator of the San Luis Gonzaga Parish in Tipitapa, Eastern Pastoral Zone of Managua.
The Archdiocese of Managua invited the Catholic congregation to join in prayer for these new pastoral missions assigned to the eight religious who will assume their duties as of this day.
