Nicaragua’s Marxist-Leninist government once again banned public Christian activities related to Holy Week and Easter.
Rosario Murillo, the power-mad wife of Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega, has vowed to allow only regime-friendly celebrations to take place in the streets in exchange for communal displays of Christian faith.
The regime’s decision to continue its brutal oppression of Christians.
most notably Catholicscome to the middle new US sanctions It targets Nicaragua’s Attorney General Wendy Carolina Morales Urbina for her role in carrying out “the regime’s unjust persecution of political prisoners and civil society in the country.”
The US Department of State also
announced On March 14, new arms restrictions were imposed on Nicaragua, citing concerns about “the continued brutal repression by the Ortega Murillo authorities against the Nicaraguan people.”
background
The Catholic Church in Nicaragua had a brief relationship with the Sandinistas in the 20th century. But in the 1980s, Pope John Paul II did a housecleaning, suspending clergy who supported revolutionary Marxism. The former pope also promoted then-archbishop Miguel Obano y Bravo, a staunch critic of the Sandinistas, to cardinal status in 1985.
The church’s revival of left-wing opposition in Managua and frequent collaboration with Nicaraguan conservatives made it an easy target for persecution. The church became an even bigger target after Mr. Ortega’s support for regime critics in 2018 protests resulted in bloodshed.
Blaze News previously reported that Ortega’s militia sent a clear message by shooting up a church at the beginning of Ortega’s fourth term in 2018. Ortega suggested that Catholics who are critical of the regime or who are sympathetic to critics of the regime are “terrorists.”
Now in his fifth term, the leftist dictator’s attacks on Catholics have worsened.The government routinely
target Arbitrary attacks, beatings, disappearances, deportations, church burnings, and property seizures against Catholics. Additionally, Ortega’s government has closed thousands of church-related organizations and services in recent years.
Associated Press
shown Despite multiple evangelical leaders supporting the regime, the regime has begun to extend its persecution to other Christian groups, with more than 256 groups associated with Protestant or evangelical churches starting in 2021. is closed or disbanded.
This persecution caused an estimated 80% of the country’s clergy and religious to flee.
Frederick Davey, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said:
Said Earlier this year, “USCIRF is outraged that the Nicaraguan government has chosen to continue its brutal crackdown on members of the Catholic Church who have spoken out about religious freedom and human rights abuses occurring in the country.”
“It has become increasingly clear that President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo seek to silence the voices of individuals acting peacefully in accordance with the dictates of their conscience,” Davey added.
Holy Week in the Shadow of the Regime
Last year, the regime banned public events, processions, and outdoor masses during Holy Week. Murillo accused those who dared to protest, saying they “don’t know how to be respectful and show solidarity.”
Associated Press
report In addition to shutting down religious activities, authorities reportedly arrested and deported clergy.
This year, the government’s momentum has doubled.
Marta Patricia Molina is a Nicaraguan lawyer who wrote the Spanish-language report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?”
I got it. On Facebook, the administration has “banned processions of 4,800 people during Lent/Holy Week in 2024.”[.] This figure includes processions that took place or will take place on the fourth Friday of Lent, Palm Sunday, and processions that took place directly during Major Week itself. ”
Molina
shown that parishes hold or plan to hold religious activities indoors, and that state authorities may also interfere with them; report Catholic News Service.
“Some processions were allowed around the block where the church was located, but at the last minute the national police showed up and issued a counter-order to prevent people from leaving[the church for the procession]due to threats.” About being incarcerated,” Molina wrote.
“As a Catholic, Nicaragua is a country that places great importance on the piety of its people,” Molina told Spanish-language reporters.
As a result, various townships and municipalities will try to hold Holy Week activities even if Catholic churches are officially banned.
christian post
report Murillo, the dictator’s wife, said authorities had indicated this year that religious processions would be replaced with “popular processions.” Organized by the regime’s tourism institute, these marches will highlight the Sandinistas’ radical ideology throughout Holy Week.
Rather than praying and reflecting, the Ortega Murillo government has
reportedly We chose fashion shows, beauty pageants, and other material distractions. While the regime insists on putting approved messages on the streets, it promotes anti-Christian hatred on television and radio.
new human rights
report “At the initiative of the president and vice president, hate speech inciting violence and discrimination against the Catholic Church was disseminated through pro-government media,” the UN statement said.
Republican Sens. Rick Scott (Florida), Ted Cruz (Texas), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and Katie Britt (Alabama)
begged President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on Nicaragua last week, citing “repeated violations of religious freedom in Nicaragua.”
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