The Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica expressed its solidarity, closeness and prayers with the bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, the first bishop imprisoned by the Nicaraguan dictatorship, led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
The Costa Rican bishops also rejected the sentence of 26 years in prison handed down by the Ortega justice system against Monsignor Álvarez. On February 10, he was found guilty in an express summary trial in which the aforementioned sentence was also handed down.
«United with Pope Francis and the Universal Church, we express our deep sorrow at any act of injustice. We reject the sentence of 26 years in prison for our brother Monsignor Rolando Álvarez,” read the statement from the bishops of Costa Rica.
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“We raise our prayer trusting in the Lord of peace, so that dialogue and respect may prevail for the benefit of all the inhabitants of this sister country, so that persecutions cease and justice prevails,” he added.
The Catholic hierarchs of the neighboring southern country urged the priests to offer “this intention in the Eucharists and all the Holy People of God to unite in an attitude of constant prayer.”
Citing the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the bishops of Costa Rica point out that their lives are in God’s hands. “We are encouraged by his Word that assures us that He accompanies us to the end of the world,” they affirm.
“May our closeness come strong and let us pray without ceasing, while we ask for the maternal protection of the Immaculate Conception over Nicaragua,” the bishops conclude.
Bishop refused to exile
The Ortega justice system expelled, on February 9, 222 political prisoners for being considered “traitors to the homeland.” The released prisoners were received by the United States government under a humanitarian parole. Ortega justified his decision by reforming article 21 of the Political Constitution of the Republic, through the Legislative Branch, and ordered the Judiciary to “deport” them for allegedly violating Law 1055, the Sovereignty Law.
According to the dictator Daniel Ortega, the bishop of Matagalpa was included in the initial list, but he refused to be banished from Nicaragua and in revenge sent him to be locked up in the National Penitentiary System (SPN), known as “La Modelo”.
A day later, on February 10, he moved up the trial scheduled for the 15th of the same month, was taken to court, found guilty, and sentenced to 26 years in prison for the alleged crimes of undermining national integrity, propagation of false news and obstruction of functions, aggravated to the detriment of the State and Nicaraguan society.
The bishop was also stripped of his Nicaraguan nationality. In addition, the court ordered the payment of 56,461.15 corresponding to 800 days of fine.
