The Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica spoke out against the “kidnapping” of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez after 15 days under police siege. The organization called on the Nicaraguan regime to “respect religious freedom.”
“Given the events of the last hours that indicate the arrest of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of Matagalpa, bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica stand in solidarity and join in prayer to the Lord of peace in these moments of pain and uncertainty. We call for respect for religious freedom, for the dignity of people and for the mission of the church carried out in Nicaragua by lay faithful, men and women religious, priests and bishops, “says the statement from the leaders of the neighboring country.
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The events were recorded this Friday at three in the morning. In the police operation, guided by the regime, they also took priests and lay people who accompanied the hierarch at the episcopate headquarters, whom they have locked up in “El Nuevo Chipote.”
After more than two weeks under police siege and held in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa since August 4, the Police, under orders from the regime, stormed the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa to kidnap Monsignor Rolando Álvarez Lagos, Bishop of the Diocese of that city.
The Facebook page of the Diocese of Matagalpa confirmed that police officers broke into the episcopal see at three in the morning on Friday, August 19. Monsignor Álvarez, five priests and three lay people were present at the site.
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Seminarians Darvin Leyva and Melkin Sequeira were also inside the Curia, as was cameraman Sergio Cárdenas.
The priests of Costa Rica end the statement by calling “to remain united in prayer throughout our country, especially for those of us who can continue to do so in our parish communities, invoking peace.”
