Nicaragua: Priest arrested, bishop denounces repressive regime

Source: Fides/JNS

On the day of the most heartfelt Marian celebration in Nicaragua, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic Church leaders once again spoke out against the government's harsh repression of the people and persecution of the Church. Mgr Abelardo Mata, Bishop of Esteli, met journalists at the end of the Mass to inform them of the latest events in his diocese.

The night before, on Saturday 7 December, Fr Ramón Alcides Peña Silva, parish priest of the church of Jicaro, had been arrested by police around 7pm, as he was returning from celebrating Mass in the church of Nueva Segovia.

Fr Ramon was detained for 12 hours on charges of "disturbing public order," while, as he wrote on social media, he had only gone to celebrate Mass. He was finally released without charge after Bishop Mata intervened.

The cathedral of Esteli, is now surrounded by large numbers of police, Bishop Mata said. They are there with the intention of intimidating the faithful, he said.

Bishop Mata said the priests are by the side of the suffering people of Nicaragua every day and the government is afraid the people will rise up in protest at the harsh regime.