Arrr, Nicaragua be settin' Bishop Rolando Álvarez and 18 holy mates free after chattin' with the Vatican!
2024-01-15
Avast! Nicaragua's scurvy government be settin' free 19 holy sea dogs who be locked up in the past year! This be part o' their dastardly scheme to silence th' religious crew, includin' the mighty Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa!
Nicaragua's government recently announced that negotiations with Vatican authorities have resulted in the release of two Catholic bishops and 17 other clergy members who were imprisoned last year. The clergy members were incarcerated as part of the government's crackdown on religious leaders who were accused of supporting a plot to overthrow President Daniel Ortega's regime. Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa and Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega of Siuna, along with 15 priests and two seminarians, were imprisoned and faced harsh sentences. Álvarez was sentenced to over 26 years in prison and was stripped of his citizenship.The Vatican played a crucial role in securing the release of the imprisoned clergy members. Vatican News confirmed that all the clergy members, except for one who remained in Venezuela, arrived in Rome and are now under the care of the Holy See. Pope Francis expressed his hope that dialogue would prevail in resolving the difficulties faced by the bishops and priests.
The United States has criticized the Nicaraguan government for unjustly incarcerating Bishop Álvarez, who spent more than 500 days in prison. The Biden administration demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the religious leader. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller raised concerns about Álvarez's well-being, alleging that authorities kept him in isolation and released staged videos and photographs.
Representative Chris Smith, chair of the House Global Human Rights Subcommittee, worked to secure the release of the imprisoned clergy members and called for further efforts to liberate those arrested for practicing their faith in Nicaragua. He criticized the Ortega-Murillo regime for its attempts to suppress the Catholic Church and vowed to continue working towards securing the release of all prisoners of conscience.
In conclusion, the release of the Catholic bishops and clergy members in Nicaragua marks a significant development in the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in the country. The involvement of Vatican authorities and the pressure from the United States have played crucial roles in securing their release. However, there is still work to be done to ensure the protection of religious rights and the release of all remaining prisoners of conscience in Nicaragua.