Nicaragua’s anti-Catholic regime rounded out 2023 with nearly 20 Catholic clerics imprisoned, earning sharp criticism, especially from the U.S. On New Year’s Eve, Fr. Gustavo Sandino Ochoa became the 15th priest abducted by President Daniel Ortega’s paramilitary police in December. Also imprisoned are two seminarians and two bishops, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, who has been imprisoned since police raided the diocesan headquarters in August of 2022, and Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega of Siuna, who was arrested and allegedly beaten last month on his way to administer the sacrament of confirmation to over 200 children. Two seminarians were arrested with the bishop.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also been critical of the Ortega dictatorship’s anti-Catholicism.
Fr. Carlos Aviles and Fr. Hector Treminio, senior officials in the Archdiocese of Managua, were also arrested after offering prayers for Álvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison after refusing exile last year. Fr. Óscar Escoto, vicar general of Matagalpa, was also arrested, released the following morning, and arrested again. He was released on Christmas Eve. Fr. Jader Guido, also of Matagalpa, was arrested Christmas Eve after praying for Álvarez, and Fr. Pablo Villafranca was arrested after publicly calling for the Matagalpa bishop’s release. (READ MORE from S.A. McCarthy: ‘A Simple, Humble Laborer in The Vineyard of The Lord’)
Over December 29 and 30, at least ten priests were arrested by the Nicaraguan President. Managua’s archdiocesan exorcist, Fr. Ismael Serrano, was arrested along with Fr. Silvio Fonseca, director of the archdiocesan family ministry. Also arrested were Fr. Miguel Mántica, Fr. Mykel Monterrey, Fr. Jader Hernández, Fr. Gerardo Rodríguez, Fr. Raúl Zamora, Fr. Ervin López, Fr. Jaime Ramos, and Fr. José Sandino.
Although it’s unclear what prompted the Ortega regime’s latest rash of arrests and abductions, the dictatorship reportedly banned priests from mentioning Álvarez during Mass or asking for prayers for the imprisoned prelate. Of course, the Eucharistic prayer often necessitates naming the local diocesan bishop, making the dictatorship’s diktat difficult to follow, even if a priest wanted to.
Catholics arrested by Ortega have been sent to either El Modelo, known for housing political prisoners, or El Chipote, known for torturing prisoners. The 63-year-old Bishop Mora is reportedly being held in El Chipote. Relatives of imprisoned priests report that they have been denied the opportunity to visit the priests or take them medicine.
In addition to arresting bishops, priests, and seminarians, the Ortega regime has also shuttered Catholic radio stations, abducted Catholic and independent journalists, frozen the bank accounts of Catholic dioceses, and closed down Catholic seminaries and universities. Ortega has also exiled religious orders and seized their property, including the Jesuits, kicked out Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua, and closed off all diplomatic ties to the Holy See. In 2023, Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors ranked Nicaragua one of the 50 most difficult countries in which to be a Christian.
Ortega’s anti-Catholic animus has prompted criticism from religious liberty advocates, especially in the U.S. For example, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said that the Ortega regime “is a dictatorship, to be sure, it’s also one that’s off the rails.” He added, “It’s a deteriorating situation where the government is persecuting the Church, and it’s hard to see what the end game of this is.” Pope Francis has also voiced concern over the situation in Nicaragua, saying in his New Year’s Day address, “Let’s pray for Nicaragua today.” He explained that he is “following with concern what is happening in Nicaragua, where bishops and priests have been deprived of their freedom.” (READ MORE: Which Way, Western Man? Satanic Idols or Christian Morality?)
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also been critical of the Ortega dictatorship’s anti-Catholicism. Commissioner Frank Wolf urged Congress to pass the “Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2023,” saying, “We urge the U.S. Congress to help stem these egregious religious freedom violations and hold violators accountable by passing the bipartisan Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2023.” The bill has been sponsored by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, an outspoken Catholic.
However, the federal government’s response to these clear religious liberty violations has been tepid, at best. Last year, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby called Ortega’s anti-Catholic crackdown “unacceptable,” but did little else. The U.S. State Department placed sanctions on 100 Nicaraguan officials in August, barring them from traveling to the U.S. Big whoop.