Nicaragua: Priest arrested after New Year's Eve Mass

Church in Jinotego, Nicaragua. Wiki image

Source: Vatican Media

Fr Gustavo Sandino, parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Diocese of Jinotega, Nicaragua, was arrested after celebrating Mass on New Year's Eve. Local sources and exiled lawyer Martha Patricia Molina confirmed the incident to the local media outlet 100% Noticias.

In Managua, Fr Fernando Téllez Báez, pastor of Our Lady of the Americas, was taken in the early hours a day earlier, and Fr Jader Hernández, pastor of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd, the evening of 30 December. He was arrested after offering prayers for Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos of Matagalpa and the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison without due process.

During Mass in the Cathedral on New Year's Eve, the Cardinal Archbishop of Managua, Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano, expressed his closeness "to the families and communities who are without their priests at this time," calling on everyone to remain "strongly" united in prayer.

"Ecclesial unity is our strength," he said, and "with Mary, our Mother, at the foot of the cross, may the Lord comfort us and show us his mercy."

Meanwhile, at a press conference, Martha Patricia Molina said that she had received word yesterday that scheduled Masses in some churches were not celebrated and the faithful were asked to go home. It is not known at this time whether the priests in these parishes were arrested.

So far, neither the government nor the police have confirmed or denied the detention of these clergymen.

Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Nicaragua is moving "increasingly" away from the rule of law and "fundamental freedoms" by persecuting "political and indigenous leaders, members of the Catholic Church, activists, and journalists" with "repeated cases of arbitrary detention."

Pope Francis shared his concern for Nicaragua today as he prayed the Angelus on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

Speaking after the prayers the Pope said: "I follow with deep concern what is happening in Nicaragua, where Bishops and priests have been deprived of their freedom." the Pope expressed his "closeness in prayer to them, their families, and the entire Church in the country."

He invited all the people of God to join in "insistent prayer" for Nicaragua. "I hope that we always seek the path of dialogue to overcome difficulties," added the Pope. "Let us pray for Nicaragua today," he concluded.

The authorities in Nicaragua have arrested at least 14 priests, one Bishop, and two seminarians over the past week.