More than eight priests who are not liked by the Daniel Ortega regime in this municipality, will be sent to temples far from La Segovias as part of a rotation promoted by the priest Fruto Constantino Valle Salmerón, recently appointed as interim manager of the Diocese of Estelí o Administrator “Ad Omnia”.
The changes have divided the parishioners, between those who view them with mistrust because they believe that they may be to please the dictatorship and others who believe that it is part of normal pastoral work. There are Catholics who describe the priest as very “docile” and who think that it is “necessary prudence” in times when the dictatorship has been ruthless in going against them and the Nicaraguan Catholic Church.
A source from the diocese who asked to speak on condition of anonymity, assured that the actions of Father Valle Salmerón were taking place with the approval of Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano, Archbishop of Managua.
Some changes
The first changes involve the parish priest of the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Cathedral, in Estelí, and head of Social Pastoral, who will be sent to an area far from the municipality of Wiwilí, department of Nueva Segovia.
The priest Valle Salmerón, appointed by the Holy See, through the Dicastery of Bishops, administrator “Ad Omnia” for the Diocese of Estelí, appointed Father Leonardo Guevara, as the new parish priest of the Cathedral.
It should be remembered that during the social protests against the dictatorship, after April 2018, the priest Valle Salmerón closed the doors of the San Juan Diego temple to opposition protesters and citizens who begged for refuge from the attacks by paramilitary groups and violent Sandinistas, who repressed a demonstration southwest of the city of Somoto.
Daniel Ortega has criticized the way priests and bishops are chosen in his appearances. “It is that the regime would like to have the power to name them,” criticizes a parishioner. “It is the dream of having a single party, but the church is only due to God,” he added.
Related news: Father Frutos Valle is named “executor ad omnia” of the Diocese of Estelí
Another of the reassignments is that of Father Edgar Báez, who will assume responsibility for the media of the Diocese of Estelí. A position headed for more than 30 years by Father Ubencio Castillo, current priest of the San Martín de Porres parish, in the city of Estelí.
Father Leonardo Guevara will be responsible for Social Pastoral and Parish Administrator of the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, meanwhile, Father Sixto Muñoz will be the new Rector of the Philosophy Seminary and San Francisco de Asís Parish Administrator. Deacon Ervin Hernández will assume responsibility for Vocation Ministry.
confirmed
Father Fruto Constantino Valle Salmerón, appointed Father Freddy López and Father Cipriano Pineda, responsible for Youth Ministry, as Parish Administrator of the Nuestra Señora de la Paz Temple in the municipality of San Fernando, in Nueva Segovia. While, in the position of the Family Pastoral, he took possession of Father Álvaro Toledo.
The pastoral changes, which include the assignment of new responsibilities to the new generation of priests, as well as transfers to other parishes, were announced by the College of Consultants and the Reverend Fruto Valle Salmerón.
According to the announcement made by the corresponding entities, the changes will be effective as of February 20.
By United Voices
