The Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (CEE) expressed its support, closeness and solidarity with the Catholic Church of Nicaragua and, in particular, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, after the persecution and siege by the dictatorship of de Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
In a letter, the Ecuadorian bishops alleged that Nicaraguan religious “at this time suffer the harshest persecution and repression for their fidelity to the Gospel of life, freedom, justice and peace.”
“In a special way, we join Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, the priests, seminarians and laity, who are under siege and control by government forces,” they stressed. The letter is signed by Luis Cabrera, archbishop of Guayaquil and president of the CEE; Monsignor David de la Torre, auxiliary bishop of Quito and secretary of the CEE; and Monsignor Alfredo Espinoza, Archbishop of Quito and Vice President of the CEE.
Related news: Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, absent in masses and rosaries. Two laymen would have left the Curia
This Wednesday, August 17, Monsignor Álvarez celebrates 14 days under police siege by order of the Ortega-Murillo regime. The bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa remains locked up in the Episcopal Curia, along with eight other people, including priests and laity.
The team of Article 66 he learned that the Nicaraguan dictatorship had allowed the departure of Flavio Castro, a musician in the choir; and Henry Covera, cameraman for the Diocese of Matagalpa platform.
There is still no official statement on the situation of the two people who apparently left the episcopal see, but it is also not known why Monsignor Álvarez does not appear in the activities he led within the Curia.
The religious who remain captive prayed the rosary to the Virgin Mary and only seven people appeared on camera, there was no musical accompaniment as is customary, and the absence of the religious leader was conspicuous.
In this way, the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador stressed that “we make our hopes of better days for all the impoverished and marginalized of Nicaraguan society in a freer, fairer and more fraternal democratic system.”
“We are convinced that the Lord of history will continue to accompany and support his prophetic and pastoral work through a people that cries out for the respect and defense of their fundamental human rights,” he stressed.
At the end of the letter, the religious concluded that “we commit our prayers to you so that the Holy Spirit continues to grant you the grace of necessary wisdom and strength. May Mary, assumed into heaven, intercede for each one of you».
In the last two days, the dictatorship has intensified the attacks against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua and its priests, raising the number of detained parents to three, another five locked up in their churches, in addition to prohibiting processions.
