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November 22, 2019

Another Nicaraguan church besieged by pro-government mob

Protesters block the entrance of the Central American University during a Nov. 19, 2019, protest against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government in Managua, the capital. Supporters of Ortega Nov. 21 tried to enter St. John the Baptist Parish in Masaya, just south of Managua, forcing churchgoers to barricade the doors with pews.

MEXICO CITY -- Pro-government mobs besieged another Nicaraguan parish, further inflaming tensions between the Catholic Church and President Daniel Ortega, whose Sandinista regime is targeting dissidents and attempting to stamp out dissent.

Published in International
November 19, 2019

Pro-government mob storms Managua cathedral, attacks hunger strikers

A statue of Mary is seen in 2017 atop the Cathedral of Managua in Nicaragua. On Nov. 18, 2019, a pro-government mob entered the cathedral, damaging property, attacking hunger strikers inside the building and jostling a priest and nun, the Archdiocese of Managua said.

MEXICO CITY -- Nicaraguan church authorities have reclaimed control of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the national capital, Managua, after a pro-government mob burst into the building, which was hosting a group of mothers holding a hunger strike to demand the release of the political-prisoner children.

Published in International
September 20, 2019

Jesuits call for action on Nicaragua

A woman shouts slogans in front of riot police officers during a prayer service for the release of political prisoners Aug. 28, 2019, in Masaya, Nicaragua. The Society of Jesus has urged Latin American countries, working "through international diplomacy," to "take all the necessary measures to rescue democracy in Nicaragua and hold the current regime responsible for the crimes it has committed."

SANTIAGO, Chile -- The Society of Jesus has urged Latin American countries -- working "through international diplomacy" -- to "take all the necessary measures to rescue democracy in Nicaragua and hold the current regime responsible for the crimes it has committed."

Published in International
September 10, 2019

Vatican representative calls for electoral reform in Nicaragua

Demonstrators take part in a protest against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government Sept. 9, 2019, in Managua. With increasing concerns worldwide about human rights violations in Nicaragua, a Vatican representative has called for an immediate return to negotiations and a rollout of reforms necessary to hold "free and transparent elections" there.

GENEVA -- With increasing concerns worldwide about human rights violations in Nicaragua, a Vatican representative has called for an immediate return to negotiations and a rollout of reforms necessary to hold "free and transparent elections" there.

Published in Vatican
March 5, 2019

Nicaraguan bishops say they have not been invited to political dialogue

Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano and Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, apostolic nuncio to Nicaragua, are seen in Masaya, Nicaragua, June 21, 2018, as clashes between anti-government protesters and police continued. The Nicaraguan bishops' conference announced March 4 it has not received invitations to play a role in a recently convened national dialogue to pull the nation out of political crisis.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The Nicaraguan bishops' conference said it has not received invitations to play a role in a recently convened national dialogue to pull the nation out of political crisis.
Published in International
February 18, 2019

Pope Francis lifts suspension imposed on Nicaraguan priest 34 years ago

Pope Francis has lifted the canonical penalties imposed 34 years ago on Father Ernesto Cardenal, 94, the Nicaraguan poet and former member of the Sandinista government. Father Cardenal is pictured in a Jan. 28, 2015 photo.
VATICAN – Pope Francis has lifted the canonical penalties imposed 34 years ago on Father Ernesto Cardenal, 94, the Nicaraguan poet and former member of the Sandinista government.
Published in International
January 9, 2019

Nicaraguans face greater challenges than most heading to World Youth Day

Israel Gonzalez Espinoza, 25, a journalist who writes from Managua, Nicaragua, for Religion Digital, a Spanish-language online news site that focuses on the Catholic Church, said many young Catholic Nicaraguans will make sacrifices to attend the upcoming World Youth Day in Panama Jan. 22-27.
WASHINGTON – Many will make sacrifices to attend the upcoming World Youth Day in Panama in late January, but few compare to the challenges facing young Catholics in nearby Nicaragua as the country deals with political and economic upheaval, some of it involving violent clashes with government forces that have plagued the Central American nation since last year.
Published in World Youth Day 2019
December 29, 2018

'Dialogue is not a fad', Nicaragua auxiliary bishop says

People in Managua, Nicaragua, pay tribute Oct. 28 to those who lost their lives in protest against President Daniel Ortega.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Managua Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Jose Baez reiterated his calls for dialogue and respecting human dignity in Nicaragua, where the president has crushed protests, closed critical media outlets and persecuted anyone – including priests – publicly opposing his administration.
Published in International
December 7, 2018

Woman dumps sulfuric acid on priest hearing confessions in Nicaragua

A statue of Mary is seen in 2017 atop the Cathedral of Managua in Nicaragua. A 24-year-old woman dumped sulfuric acid on a priest while he was hearing confessions in the cathedra Dec. 5.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – A 24-year-old woman dumped sulfuric acid on a priest while he was hearing confessions in the Managua cathedral.
Published in International
August 6, 2018

A month after government's 'clean-up,' a Nicaraguan community mourns three dead

A man rides his bicycle behind a barricade erected in front of St. Peter Church June 15 in Sutiaba, Nicaragua. On July 5, the Nicaraguan police, with masked and armed paramilitary support, attacked Sutiaba, killing three people.
SUTIABA, Nicaragua – Father Victor Morales was awakened at 5 a.m. by the young men on the barricade outside his church. "They're coming, father. They're here," they told him.
Published in International
August 1, 2018

Thousands march in support of Nicaraguan bishops after repeated attacks

A woman and man carry a statue of Mary during a march in support of the Catholic Church July 28 in Managua, Nicaragua. The government is accusing Catholic bishops of siding with the opposition and encouraging protests.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The streets of Nicaragua were filled on July 28 by thousands of demonstrators supporting the country’s bishops and priests after repeated attacks by paramilitaries with ties to the government.
Published in International
July 26, 2018

Amid rising tension between Church and government, two churches desecrated in Nicaragua

A demonstrator holds a crucifix during a protest against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government in Managua, Nicaragua, May 15.
JINOTEGA, Nicaragua – Two churches in the Diocese of Jinotega in northern Nicaragua have been desecrated in the past week, amid rising tensions between the Church and the government of president Daniel Ortega.
Published in International
July 16, 2018

Nicaraguan bishops to pray for exorcism as violence continues

Young people mourn over the casket of Gerald Jose Vasquez, a student at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, during his July 15 wake in Managua. Vasquez was one of two students shot and killed by paramilitary forces when they were seeking refuge in Divine Mercy Catholic Church after being forced from the university they had occupied in protest for more than two months.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – As attacks on Catholic clergy continue and anti-government protesters are besieged by Nicaraguan police and paramilitaries, the bishops said they would pray an exorcism prayer.
Published in International
July 10, 2018

Bishops, journalists attacked at church in Nicaragua

Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano of Managua, Nicaragua, and Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Baez Ortega, arrive as anti-government protests continue July 9 in Diriamba. Later that day the two prelates were among Nicaraguan bishops and clergy attacked by armed groups aligned with the government Diriamba.

COPAN, Honduras -- Nicaraguan bishops and clergy were attacked by armed groups aligned with the government July 9 as violence in the Central American country escalated and affected the Catholic Church, which has provided humanitarian assistance in its parishes and has tried to diffuse a worsening political crisis through dialogue.

Published in International
June 27, 2018

Nicaraguan bishops to inform Pope of worsening crisis

Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano and Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, apostolic nuncio to Nicaragua, are seen in Masaya, Nicaragua, June 21 as clashes between anti-government protesters and police continue.
Managua, Nicaragua – As the situation in Nicaragua continues to deteriorate, two of the country's bishops are travelling to Rome, where they will brief Pope Francis on the state of affairs in their nation.
Published in International
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