During Holy Week, the police arrested at least 15 Nicaraguans who were mostly faithful Catholics and critics of the regime, according to the nongovernmental organization Blue and White Monitoring. Those arrested include journalist Víctor Ticay, who was taken into custody by the police on Holy Thursday after he livestreamed a Holy Week event on social media the day before.
The U.S. bishops lamented the situation of Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matalgalpa, who was “unjustly sentenced” and “languishes in prison.” In February the Nicaraguan bishop refused to be deported to the U.S. and decided to stay with 37 political prisoners. He was declared guilty of treason, sentenced to a 26-year prison sentence, and stripped of his citizenship.
“Despite these extreme hardships, the Nicaraguan faithful, in union with their bishops and priests, have resiliently borne witness to the power of Christ’s resurrection, as they attended Easter celebrations in record numbers,” the U.S. bishops said.
“I call on the United States government and the entire international community to continue to work for the release of Bishop Álvarez and for a restoration of peace and the rule of law in Nicaragua,” said Malloy, speaking on behalf of the U.S. bishops’ conference. “May Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States and Nicaragua, embrace her children during this difficult time and illumine them with the light of the risen Christ.”
On April 15, Ortega again attacked the Catholic Church during a meeting with Luo Zhaohui, president of the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
During the meeting, Ortega claimed that Bishop Álvarez was “dedicated to boycotting and sabotaging economic and production activities in Matagalpa.” Ortega also attacked the country’s bishops and claimed they had given an “ultimatum” for the state to dismantle all branches of the government.
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