Mgr Rolando Alvarezbishop of the diocese of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of the diocese of Estelí, made a call to stop the circles of violence and death in Nicaragua through forgiveness, reparation for the damage caused, justice and the common good.
In his homily this Sunday, March 13, Monsignor Álvarez, referring to the Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus, declared that “Nicaragua will be transfigured” if we listen to God and do not harden our hearts.
“Nicaragua must stop this spiral that wants to drag us all down, it must stop the circles of violence and death, stop indifference; must strive for the return of exiles, giving security to their lives and opportunities for decent work, must repair the damage done to people and their families, we must forgive, care for those who suffer, sick, forgotten, marginalized, imprisoned , exiled, persecuted,” said the bishop at the San Pedro de Matagalpa Cathedral Church.
Nicaragua, under the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, is facing a sociopolitical and economic crisis that has worsened since the government repression in 2018, with political prisonersillegal trials, exodus of Nicaraguans, hunting down critical voices, in the midst of poverty.
“It is not unknown that our country has been carrying destruction, violence and mourning for many times. Those who through force have oppressed the weakest have been imposed. It is not just a recent story, it has been a spiral of violence,” said the religious leader.
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He deplored that “there are those who, eager for power and wealth, have not cared about exploiting and trampling on the dignity of their fellow men; there are the blackmailers who have their victims subjugated, God knows for what reason; there are those who, at all levels, in all spheres, refuse to serve if they do not get some usufruct, some profit or an extra payment. There are those who wait for the right moment to harbor their revenge, harboring more and more hatred in hearts.
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He added that “there are those who do not commit to life and thinking that they can take the lives of others without consequences, they abort, kill with a weapon or through euthanasia. (And) there are the apathetic ones who – regardless of the adverse consequences of their brother, hunger, poverty, lack of work, illness, mourning – go unnoticed and disoriented from reality, caring only about what is in their possession and whimsical to want».
But also, Monsignor Álvarez said, “there are those who stop before the voice of God that announces: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”, and listen to the voice of the mother who asks: “Do what He tells you”» .
He urged to be custodians of life, of the common good, justice and defense of rights and freedoms with the hope of a better future. “This is our social doctrine, it is what we want, what we need, this will be our transformation effort (…) This is not an illusion or an unrealizable utopia. The transfiguration of Jesus must also be our own personal and social transfiguration,” said the Catholic leader.
«This is our only way out, let us listen to His voice and let us not harden our hearts. Nicaragua demands to be repaired, remade, renewed. If as a people, from the heart, we turn to God, Nicaragua will be transfigured,” the monsignor stressed.
