The Nicaraguan Human Rights Collective Never Again issued a statement in which they reject and denounce the persecution against the Nicaraguan Catholic Church and the arrest of Father Oscar Danilo Benavidez Tinoco, pastor of the Holy Spirit Church, in Mulukukú, Autonomous Region of Nicaragua. the North Caribbean Coast.
“We denounce the criminalization against religious of the Catholic Church whose freedom and personal integrity are seriously threatened and they are prevented from exercising their pastoral work. The Collective demands the cessation of these serious violations of human rights, in particular religious freedom and freedom of expression, against a people that deserves freedom, truth and justice, “says the defense organization.
Related news: Mulukukú police “disappear” Father Oscar Benavidez after homily on the persecution of prophets
Father Óscar Benavidez was arrested on Sunday, August 14, after the priest finished celebrating mass in the Concepción de María chapel, where he spoke about the prophet Jeremías, who was the object of opprobrium by the powerful of the time. The regime points him out to attack and create anxiety among the people.
The priest Oscar Benavidez is originally from San Isidro, Matagalpa, he had been in charge of the Espiritu Santo parish in Mulukukú for a little over three months. His parishioners have expressed that he is a very loved person in the town.
For its part, the Diocese of Siuna claims not to know the reasons for the arrest and asks the Catholic faithful to join in prayer “for our brother priest Oscar Benavidez, whose only mission is and has been to announce the good news of Jesus Christ, which is the word of life and new salvation for all».
With this arrest there are already three priests imprisoned in this 2022. Monsignor Leonardo Urbina and Father Manuel Salvador García, head the list. The first is accused of allegedly having raped a 12-year-old girl and the other of having assaulted a woman and threatened Sandinista militants.
Related news: Police patrol Mulukukú after the arrest of Father Óscar Benavidez
Since the beginning of August, the Ortega government has intensified its siege against the Catholic Church, especially against religious from Matagalpa and other areas in the north of the country. They first attacked Father Uriel Vallejos, then Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, whose siege has lasted for 12 days.
On the morning of Sunday, August 14, the Ortega police took away the driver’s license from Father Fernando Calero, parish priest of Rancho Grandealso prevented him from leaving for Matagalpa to receive the image of Our Lady of Fatima.
The Collective reiterated its “solidarity to all the parishioners, to the bishops and priests who are persecuted, imprisoned and threatened because they have not silenced the injustices against the Nicaraguan people. We demand the return of confiscated assets, the repeal of all repressive laws and the freedom of all political prisoners in Nicaragua,” the statement said.
