Some 28 groups of the Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Matagalpa They expressed their “suffering and solidarity” with their bishop, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez Lagos, in the face of the persecution and police siege imposed on him by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Since last August 3, the cardinal, five priests, two seminarians and four lay people have been held captive in the Episcopal Curia of that city by order of the regime.
On Friday, August 5, the Ortega Police reported that Monsignor Rolando Álvarez and high authorities of the Church in Matagalpa are being investigated because “they are trying to organize violent groups, inciting them to carry out acts of hatred against the population, causing an atmosphere of anxiety. and disorder, disturbing the peace and harmony in the community, with the purpose of destabilizing the State of Nicaragua and attacking the constitutional authorities.”
According to the police authorities, the investigations are for the purpose of “determining the criminal responsibility of the people involved in the commission of these criminal acts”, when Bishop Álvarez has only called masses and “sung songs” while he has been in that stage of siege and forced captivity.
Related news: Regime has “kidnapped” 12 people, including Monsignor Álvarez, in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa
In the declaration of the Youth Ministry they also extend their solidarity with the diocesan clergy because five priests, together with Monsignor Álvarez, are also subjected to the confinement imposed by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to silence the prophetic voice of the Church.
“Being faithful to the truth announced by Jesus Christ, trusting in his designs, we have joined from the twenty-eight parishes to a Day of Prayer for the Church, our bishop, the diocesan clergy and peace in Nicaragua, from the various pastoral areas; Therefore, we encourage all youth ministries to join virtually and in the places that are possible in person, “highlights the statement of the Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Matagalpa.
«In this way we reiterate our unconditional support as Matagalpa youth, remembering the words of the diocesan clergy: “We invite the People of God to continue bending their knees for the church, for our priests and for our beloved Nicaragua. Praying is always possible: the Christian’s time is that of the risen Christ who is with us ‘every day (Mt28: 20), whatever the storms (Lk 8:24) », he adds.
These new attacks on the Church included the closing of all the religious radio stations that were administered by the Diocese of Matagalpa. Also the cancellation of TV Merced, the Catholic Channel of Nicaragua, owned by the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN), the siege of religious temples; the occupation of the radio transmission equipment; the three-day siege of Father Uriel Vallejos and the taking of the Infant Jesus of Prague chapel, in Sébaco.
Relations between the Sandinista regime and the Nicaraguan Catholic Church have been marked by friction and mistrust in the last 43 years. Ortega has branded as “terrorists” the Nicaraguan bishops who acted as mediators of a national dialogue that sought a peaceful solution to the crisis that the country has been experiencing since April 2018.
