The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy (ACJD) joined the day of prayer and fasting in support of the Catholic Church, an initiative that was born from the regime’s attack against the religious institution, which enjoys the greatest credibility in Nicaragua.
On Monday, August 1, the National Police illegally entered the Niño Jesús de Praga chapel, which is adjacent to the Divina Misericordia parish house, in Sébaco, Matagalpa.
Through social networks, the members of the opposition organization sent a message of solidarity to the religious victims of the persecution of the dictatorship.
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“After the latest acts of repression against Nicaraguan citizens and against the Catholic congregation in the city of Sébaco, we join in fasting and prayer to ask for the intercession of our country, for the freedom of our father Uriel Vallejos who at this time is kidnapped within his own parish. We demand freedom for the political prisoners who are on a hunger strike and the freedom of Nicaragua,” said the member of the Civic Alliance.
Citizens from different parts of the country have sent their expressions of support for the event called this August 3, with which they also demand the freedom of political prisoners.
Last week Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, called on parishioners to join a prayer crusade that consists of fasting on the first Friday of each month, at 5:30 in the morning.
The most recent attack against the Nicaraguan Church occurred on the night of August 1, after the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Post Office (Telcor) closed at least six radio stations managed by the Diocese of Matagalpa.
The Ortega regime, through the Police, attacked the Niño Jesús de Praga chapel, in the municipality of Sébaco, with an armed hand. “We want to inform the people of Nicaragua that at this time the riot police have violated the gates of the Niño Jesús de Praga chapel, next to the Divina Misericordia parish house in Sébaco,” the ecclesiastical authorities detailed.
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“Due to the increase in persecution against the Church, the siege against opponents and bishops, due to the lack of a rule of law that guarantees religious freedom to its citizens, and due to the arbitrary and unjustified closure of its media , we invite citizens to join us in this day of fasting and prayer for the freedom of the Nicaraguan people who are victims of the Nicaraguan system and government,” said one of the members of the opposition Civic Alliance.
Ortega has branded as “terrorists” the Nicaraguan bishops who acted as mediators of a national dialogue with which a peaceful solution to the crisis that the country has been experiencing since April 2018 was sought. He has also described them as “coup plotters” and has accused of being accomplices of internal forces and international groups that, in his opinion, act in Nicaragua to overthrow him.
