Nicaragua

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Father Yesner Cipriano Pineda Meneses (left) and Father Ramón Esteban Angulo Reyes (right), were arrested in Nicaragua the weekend of Oct. 7-8, 2023.

Two more priests arrested by Ortega dictatorship in Nicaragua

Oct 10, 2023

By Diego López Marina

The arrest of two more Catholic priests in Nicaragua brings the total to six priests arrested in just eight days... Read more

(From left to right) Father Julio Ricardo Norori, Father Iván Centeno, and Father Cristóbal Gadea were arrested Oct. 1, 2023, by the Nicaraguan government.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua arrests three priests

Oct 3, 2023

By Diego López Marina

The reasons behind the arrest of the priests still remain unknown. Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matalgalpa, Nicaragua.

Imprisoned Nicaraguan bishop nominated for European Parliament human rights award

Sep 25, 2023

By Diego López Marina

The European Parliament announced the nominees for the 2023 Sakharov Prize, which honors persons and organizations who defend human rights... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua arrests priest who prayed for imprisoned Bishop Álvarez

Sep 11, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

In a message sent to ACI Prensa, lawyer Martha Patricia Molina stated that the priest “was kidnapped by the Sandinista... Read more

Nicaraguan opposition peasant leader Medardo Mairena speaks during a press conference at the Permanent Commission of Human Rights (CPDH) in Managua on Aug. 14, 2019.

Nicaraguan ‘campesino’ leader who refused to falsely accuse bishops shares his testimony

Sep 7, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Medardo Mairena Sequeira said Daniel Ortega “has become entrenched in power and anyone who makes waves ... can immediately be... Read more

Félix Maradiaga, a former presidential candidate in Nicaragua and president of the Foundation for the Freedom of Nicaragua, in June 2021.

Exiled Nicaraguan opposition leader to help make criminal case against Daniel Ortega

Aug 30, 2023

By Julieta Villar

Félix Maradiaga’s visit is part of a strategy to consolidate international pressure against the Sandinista dictatorship in Nicaragua. Read more

Facade of the Central American University (UCA), before being expropriated by the Ortega dictatorship.

Latin American Catholic college organization condemns seizure of Nicaraguan Jesuit university

Aug 28, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The organization expressed its “deep concern over the siege, the confiscation of assets, and the closure suffered by the Central... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

6 things you should know about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua

Aug 27, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

The Ortega dictatorship has not hesitated to expel nuns, shut down Catholic media outlets, take over ecclesiastical institutions and buildings,... Read more

Jason Poblete, president of the Global Liberty Alliance and an expert on Central and South America, speaks with “EWTN News Nightly” host Tracy Sabol on Aug. 24, 2023, about the current situation in Nicaragua.

Expert on Nicaragua urges U.S. to ‘stop dawdling with the dictator’

Aug 25, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

“They want to wipe out Catholicism, eventually, from the public square. That’s their goal,” said Global Liberty Alliance’s Jason Poblete. Read more

Daniel Ortega.

Nicaragua dictatorship revokes legal status of the Jesuits, confiscates all their assets

Aug 24, 2023

By Diego López Marina

The move by the dictatorship takes place amid a growing wave of harassment against the religious order. Read more

(Left) A stamp printed in Nicaragua shows the face of Casimiro Sotelo Montenegro. (right) Letters from the Central American University.

Nicaragua’s dictatorship renames university, evicts 6 Jesuits from adjacent property

Aug 22, 2023

By Diego López Marina

The Jesuits showed the officers proof of the order’s ownership but it made little difference and they were ordered to... Read more

The economic sciences building of the Central American University (UCA) in Nicaragua.

Jesuits’ superior general condemns seizure of university by Nicaragua dictatorship

Aug 18, 2023

By Ary Waldir Ramos Díaz

The superior general of the Jesuits denounced the confiscation and expressed his solidarity with the UCA, its directors, and its... Read more

Central American University (UCA) of Nicaragua.

U.S. State Department spokesman condemns seizure of Jesuit university in Nicaragua

Aug 17, 2023

By Diego López Marina, CNA Staff

“The U.S. condemns the regime’s ongoing repression of religious figures and institutions,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said. Read more

Cardinal Manuel Clemente, the patriarch of Lisbon, was the main celebrant for the Tuesday evening outdoor opening Mass for World Youth Day held at Eduardo VII Park on Aug. 1, 2023.

Dictatorship in Nicaragua blocks two priests who attended WYD from returning to the country

Aug 14, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega reportedly prohibited two priests from returning to Nicaragua from Lisbon, Portugal, where they participated in... Read more

Missionaries of Charity leave Nicaragua on July 6, 2022.

Nicaraguan lawyer: 65 women religious have been expelled from the country since 2022

Jul 31, 2023

By Diego López Marina

According to Martha Patricia Molina, a total of 10 religious congregations in the country have been affected. Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez.

Honduran bishop: Although Bishop Álvarez is in prison, he won’t be silent

Jul 26, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

“He’s not going to be silent. He is not a man to stay silent. ... [He wants to] return to... Read more

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Dictatorship in Nicaragua freezes fund for retired priests

Jul 25, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

A Nicaraguan lawyer and researcher reported that elderly priests are not receiving their pensions from the national insurance funds for... Read more

Residents of Ngbam, Benue state, Nigeria, on April 8, 2023, the day after gunmen killed at least 43 people and injured another 40.

House chairman: State Department is giving religious freedom violators ‘a pass’

Jul 19, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

“I am concerned that the U.S. State Department is not using all the tools provided to hold guilty parties accountable,”... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez.

U.S. State Department official calls for release of imprisoned bishop, priest in Nicaragua

Jul 17, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs has called for the release of Father Fernando Zamora Silva... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

U.S. bishops call for release of Nicaraguan Bishop Álvarez 

Jul 13, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Following failed negotiations to free Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, the U.S. bishops called for the imprisoned prelate’s release. Read more