Nicaragua: Catholics celebrate Mass on the street due to police restrictions

On Tuesday, a group of parishioners from the municipality of Ciudad Darío in northern Nicaragua celebrated mass outside in front of Santa Lucia parish because National Police He keeps his priests at the temple amid tensions between the Catholic Church and the government of President Daniel Ortega.

“This is how our day started in the parish of Santa Lucia, Ciudad Dario,” the beleaguered parish said in a public message in which he showed pictures Police officer Nicaraguan in the vicinity of the temple, who could not open his doors.

Santa Lucia has at least 4 parishes in Diocese of Matagalpa (North) who condemned some of the restrictions since August 4 last year by the Bishop of that jurisdiction, Rolando Alvarezwas held in the Bishop’s Palace by the Nicaraguan police, who accused him of allegedly trying to organize “violent groups”.

The priest this morning Sebastian Lopez He went out into the atrium of the parish of Santa Lucia and from there celebrated mass to the faithful, who were on the street, separated by the gate of the church administration.

Catholics received master stretching fingers through the grid surrounding the temple, under police supervision.

In a sermon Lopez He asked God for strength, hope and inner peace, in addition “that He is also the decision of our people, and that the King of kings can give a good development to our life and our human stability.”

At the end of Mass Catholics they remained in front of the temple, shouting slogans in support of about seven detainees, including a priest Vincent Martinez.

“You are not alone, the people are with you! Long live the Church! Christ the King, long live! Everything will be taken away from us except our faith! Christ: Alive, Alive, Alive!” they shouted.

Other complaints

At the same time the arrival Sacred Heart of Jesusalso from Ciudad Darío, said that since Monday he has been “besieged and persecuted” by National Policeand the agents surrounded the temple.

“Move the hearts of rulers and police officers so that they realize the evil of their actions and return to the path of peace and goodness, respect for the life and dignity of every person, regardless of his religion, origin or position. society,” emphasized Parish of the Sacred Heart Jesus in his denunciation.

The day before, the Diocese of Siuna (Northern Caribbean) condemned the capture and disappearance of Father Oscar Benavidez from the parish. Holy Spiritin hand Police officer Nicaraguan.

Formerly the priests of the municipalities of Terrabona and El Tuma La Dalia, as well as Diocese of Matagalpacondemned that the police restricted their religious activities so that they were celebrated only in their parishes.

Withholdings and restrictions in Catholic Church in Nicaragua This is the latest chapter in a 43-year series of disagreements between this Christian religion and Ortega, the supreme chief of the Nicaraguan police.

In 2022 the Government Ortega He arrested 3 priests, closed 8 radio stations and 3 Catholic channels, entered by force and raided the parish, and also expelled the missionaries of the order. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

The Sandinista leader called “terrorists” the Nicaraguan bishops who acted as mediators of a national dialogue aimed at a peaceful solution to the political and social crisis that has been ongoing since 2018. Nicaraguaa country where 58.5% of the 6.6 million inhabitants identify themselves as Catholics.

The situation in Nicaragua worsened after the controversial elections last November, in which Ortega he was re-elected for a fifth term, a fourth in a row, and a second, along with his wife, Rosario Murillo, for the vice presidency, while his main rivals were in prison.

(As reported by EFE)