The auxiliary bishop of Managua, Silvo José Báez, asked Nicaraguans to offer “understanding, support and forgiveness” to the former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Artuto McFields Yescas, who last Wednesday the regime abruptly broke off their relationship by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
The former diplomat called, in a session of the OAS Permanent Council, the Ortega government a “dictatorship” and assured that he was speaking for the “177 political prisoners and the more than 350 deaths” left by the regime’s repression against the civic protests of 2018.
“Sometimes we are very harsh with those who, after living wrongly, decide to channel their lives along the paths of good and justice. We are unable to forgive,” said Báez in his homily this Sunday, March 27.
“When someone regrets and decides to change, you have to support him with affection. When someone who has made a mistake, recognizes his sins and corrects himself, he always feels ashamed and needs our closeness and our understanding. Let us not remain indifferent to these brothers, nor let us be rigid of heart thinking that there are people who are not worthy of receiving God’s embrace and forgiveness,” stressed the bishop who is in exile in Miami, United States, by decision of Pope Francis. .
They leave the “ideological prison”
“In our society there may be people who, for whatever reason, have collaborated with the dominant unjust system, but who one day reconsider and decide to change. It is not easy for them. They are afraid of the reprisals of the regime and of the misunderstanding of society”, commented the prelate.
In a extensive interview with the program television Tonight, the journalist and diplomat defended his status as a public servant, and addressing the state workers said: “I am proof that there are many more, do not lose hope, lose fear.”
The government removed McFields from his position as representative to the OAS and carried out a dirty campaign against him, including deleting records about your appointment as ambassador to the regional body.
“You have to value his decision. They decide to get out of the ideological prison in which they have lived, free themselves from the humiliation to which they have been subjected, denounce injustice and place themselves on the correct side of history,” Báez stressed.
He added: “Let us support these brothers and sisters. Let’s not ask: why didn’t he do it before? Is he sincere? Does he deserve to be welcomed? Let’s not stop at the past mistakes of others, let’s not keep pointing fingers at the bad things they have done. Let us tune into the heart of God and offer these people understanding, support and forgiveness.”
“If we don’t want to stay out of the heart of God, we too have to learn to rejoice and celebrate for those who, after being touched by the love of God and reconsidering, change course in life and come back, rectify and orient again their existence towards love, life and truth”, highlighted the monsignor.
