The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) denounced on its social networks the “arbitrary detention” of the Bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando Alvarezof four priests, two seminarians and a cameraman from his press team who were in the Episcopal Curia early this Friday, August 19, when the building was raided by the Police.
Bishops from Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina, the United States and Spain condemned the persecution against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua in separate pronouncements, in which they agreed to show solidarity with the “painful episode” suffered by the Church Nicaraguan.
Álvarez and his collaborators had been forcibly locked up in the Episcopal Palace, surrounded by a device of anti-riot officers for 15 days, after an investigation was opened on August 5 for “organization of violent groups” and “fostering hatred”. ” in the midst of the repressive escalation of the Ortega-Murillo regime against the Catholic Church.
The Archbishop of Panama, Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa, demanded the release of the detainees, through a statement, in which he maintained that “the aberrant events surrounding this arrest are cause for alarm and pain throughout the Latin American Church”, while demanding that Álvarez’s dignity be respected, both as a human being and as a Catholic prelate. “I raise a prayer to heaven for Nicaragua, its noble people and its Church that suffers today,” he added.
The Vatican “diplomatic operation”
An adviser to Pope Francis, Mexican philosopher Rodrigo Guerra López, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Latin America, said to the religious milieu Aleteia that the Supreme Pontiff is very well informed about Nicaragua and denied that his silence means inactivity.
“A papal silence does not mean inactivity or lack of decision, no, none of that; it means that they are working on other planes,” said Guerra.
The adviser said that “a diplomatic operation is underway through Cardinal -Leopoldo- Brenes and some other people, myself included. We are involved in the matter, ”he asserted without giving details, and without mentioning the president of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Carlos Herrera.
In recent days, former Argentine presidents, columnists and journalists questioned Francisco’s silence. Since last May, the State intensified the repression against priests, taking it to the extreme of expelling 18 sisters from the order of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Starting in June, three priests were imprisoned, seven stations from the Diocese of Matagalpa were cancelled, the Sébaco parish was desecrated and Álvarez himself was besieged first in Managua and recently in Matagalpa until the imposition of a forced arrest at his home in Managua.
The Bishopric of Cuba, Emilio Aranguren, commented that they appreciated the testimony of fidelity to Christ and to the humble professed by the Church of Nicaragua. The bishop of Holguin and president of the Episcopal Conference of that country, pointed out that Nicaraguans have maintained communion and serene trust in the Risen Lord, the one they are proclaiming in “these hours of the cross.”
Monsignor Oscar Vicente Ojea, president of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, added that he was informed about the difficulties in which the Diocese of Matagalpa carries out its mission and affirmed his closeness to Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua. From the early hours of the morning, the persecution caused regional concern about the situation of Álvarez, whose whereabouts remained unknown in the early hours of this Friday morning.
The auxiliary bishop of Managua, Monsignor Silvio Báez, based in exile since 2019, who asked the world in recent days not to abandon Nicaraguan Catholics, condemned Álvarez’s kidnapping with an “indignant and hurt heart” and wondered where he was the bishop whose legal situation was later explained by his captors.
The confession of the Ortega police
In the press release 78-2021, the Police confessed to the police assault and justified their conduct. According to the authorities, who operate under direct orders from Ortega, an operation was carried out that allowed “recovering normality for the citizens and families of Matagalpa.”
The Police assured that the bishop is under house protection at his home in Managua, where he was able to meet with his relatives and Cardinal Brenes, vice president of the Episcopal Conference. The other seven people were transferred to the Directorate of Judicial Assistance, known as El Chipote, a prison denounced as a torture center by national and international human rights organizations.
Brenes: Álvarez in poor physical condition
The Nicaraguan cardinal confirmed in a subsequent statement that he spoke with Álvarez, “evidencing fraternal esteem on behalf of the Church of Nicaragua,” described his physical condition as deteriorating, but added that his “heart and spirit are strong.”
The Police affirmed that all the detainees were transferred with “respect” and in “observation of their rights”. According to that institution, the operation took place after days of waiting for some communication from the Bishopric of Matagalpa, which they accused of continuing with their “destabilizing and provocative” actions.
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, condemned the kidnapping carried out by the repressive forces and demanded his release, as did the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
#Nicaragua?? The #IACHR condemns the escalation of repression against the Catholic Church in the country. In particular, the arbitrary detention of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, and other religious of the Diocese of Matagalpa, recorded during the early hours of today #19August. pic.twitter.com/3Zriyr0ndw
— IACHR – IACHR (@IACHR) August 19, 2022
The Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica called for respect for religious freedom, the dignity of people and also the mission carried out by the Nicaraguan Church.
The Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, declared himself “very concerned” about the raid carried out by the authorities against the episcopal see and the recent actions against the Catholic Church and civil organizations and demanded that the Government release all the people arbitrarily detained.
Through a spokesman, Guterres reiterated his appeal to the Executive of Daniel Ortega to guarantee “the protection of the human rights of all citizens, particularly the universal rights of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, thought, conscience and religion.”
“The secretary general is very concerned about the serious obstruction of democratic and civic space in Nicaragua and about the recent actions against civil society organizations, including those of the Catholic Church,” spokesman Farhan Haq said during a press conference.
Church of Puerto Rico: “Let the violence and aggression cease”
The bishopric of Puerto Rico also demanded that it is essential that the violence and aggression cease, and they assured that with the confinement of Álvarez it has escalated. animosity to very dangerous levels.
The bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami, Monsignor Thomas Wenski, denounced several acts of repression in Nicaragua such as the impediment on August 13 of the procession in honor of the Virgin of Fatima in Managua, the kidnapping of Álvarez and the closure of radio stations. “We have to pray a lot for the people of Nicaragua and for their Church,” he cried out.
Message recorded by Bishop Thomas Wenski this morning. #SOSNicaragua pic.twitter.com/a9AlsoxFlN
— Archdiocese of Miami (@CatholicMiami) August 19, 2022
The Archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoro Sierra, also expressed on his Twitter account that they are united with the Church that walks in Nicaragua and that they pray that it can carry out its mission in freedom.
Carmelites also urge the liberation
Father Miguel Márquez Calle, father general of the Discalced Carmelites, said that they embrace and embrace the Church and people of Nicaragua, to whom they expressed their solidarity.
Message from the Father General of the Order of Carmelite Fathers on Nicaragua. pic.twitter.com/UWH6cTlmMR
– Silvio José Báez (@silviojbaez) August 19, 2022
“With great pain we have learned that Monsignor Rolando Álvarez Lagos, Bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, was violently captured by the Police. As Teresian Carmelites, children of the Church, we feel with great pain that the people of Nicaragua are deprived of another faithful pastor, servant of the gospel. I invite you to pray for this bishop, a defender of human dignity in the name of Christ so that his integrity is respected and that he be released immediately, ”said Márquez Calle, also alluding to Bishop Báez, of the same religious order of the.
