Asmara, Eritrea, Jul 9, 2019 / 12:01 pm
As the Eritrean government continues to seize and close Catholic healthcare sites throughout the country, the Church has denounced the intimidation used during the nationalization.
The government's action began in June, and by July 9 as many as 29 Catholic hospitals, health centers, and clinics had been shuttered.
Agenzia Fides reported that a group of nuns who ran a health facility in southern Eritrea were asked to leave their residence July 4, and that in Zager (Zaghir), about 20 miles north of Asmara, police forced nuns away from their health facility and sealed its doors July 5.
"Though the Catholic bishops have expressed their opposition to this measure, they have not yet received any response from the State authorities," read a recent statement from the Eritrean Catholic Church.