Nicaragua: Second bishop arrested

Bishop Mora

Source: Vatican News/BBC

On Wednesday, 20 December, the Nicaraguan police arrested Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega, bishop of the Diocese of Siuna. He was taken into police custody after praying publicly for Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Apostolic Administrator of Estelí, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison without any trial.

Bishop Álvarez has been imprisoned since February 2023, after being under house arrest since August 2022, on charges of conspiracy, spreading false news, obstruction of justice, and contempt for authorities.

According to reports, Bishop Mora was stopped by the police and paramilitaries "as he was heading to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at the parish of La Cruz de Rio Grande."

Along with him, "seminarians Alester Sáenz and Tony Palacio were also arrested." At present, the whereabouts of the three men are unknown.

The independent press of Nicaragua, citing Church sources, suggest that the arrest of Bishop Mora is linked to the homily he gave on 20 December at the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle. During his sermon he said the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference continues to pray for Bishop Álvarez.

"We remain united in prayer for the beloved diocese of Matagalpa," said Bishop Mora. "We pray for Bishop Rolando and for each one of you."

He concluded: "We are united in prayer, communion, faith, love, and tenderness."

The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, has recently stated that Nicaragua is drifting "further and further" from the rule of law, particularly "from fundamental freedoms, worsening the suffering of the people, fueling the exodus of the youth, and undermining the future of democratic institutions."

She denounced that the authorities in Managua persist in "persecuting those who can contribute with an alternative vision to the public sphere, such as political and indigenous leaders, members of the Catholic Church, activists, and journalists."

She said: "Restrictions on civic space continue, with repeated cases of arbitrary detention against those exercising their fundamental freedoms."

LINK

BBC report: 21/12/2023 - Nicaragua arrests second bishop in crackdown on Church: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-67785296