The arrest of a senior bishop and leading opposition voice in Nicaragua brings the situation within the country to crisis point, now demanding a strong reaction from the Papacy. So much have relations between the Church and the regime of Daniel Ortega deteriorated that it may now be time for the excommunication – or the threat of it – of the President and many in his inner circle. While the Pope may fear this could inflame tensions, it seems that ship has already sailed. Yes, the Holy See did recently speak up about the situation in Nicaragua, but it do so in equivocal language, while the Pope’s words on Sunday regarding the arrest did not seem to match the gravity of the situation.
Over the weekend, the Pope said: “I am following with concern and sorrow the situation created in Nicaragua. I would like to express my conviction and my hope that, through an open and sincere dialogue, the basis for a respectful and peaceful co-existence might still be found.” Speaking in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope stated he was closely following events with “worry and sorrow”. This acknowledgement also seemed not to match the horror of what is unfolding in the country.
As the Catholic Herald recently reported, the government of Nicaragua had already ordered the closure of radio stations linked to a bishop who has been critical of President Ortega: Rolando Álvarez has been accused of inciting violent actors “to carry out acts of hate against the population”. Álvarez was placed under house arrest after protesting the closure of the stations. The cleric is accused of using media to carry out acts of violence to destabilise the country. In recent weeks meanwhile, priests have been blocked from churches, and Catholic media has been forced off air.
Now, the situation has escalated. As reported by the Associated Press, police on Friday raided Álvarez’s residence, detaining him and several others. Police said the operation was carried out to allow “the citizenry and families of Matagalpa to recover normalcy.” In response, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights condemned the action and called for the immediate release of those held. Human rights activist Bianca Jagger has also warned the Nicaraguan government is waging war on the Church, while being “deeply saddened and concerned” by the Pope’s failure to condemn the regime. Later, in an interview with the Catholic Herald, Ms Jagger urged the Church to condemn the Ortega regime and said he and his wife (who is also the Vice President) were waging a “brutal war” against the Catholic Church because they saw it as the last remaining political opposition to the dictatorship.
Álvarez has been a thorn in the side of the regime since 2018. After protests broke out that year, the bishop said: “We hope there would be a series of electoral reforms, structural changes to the electoral authority – free, just and transparent elections, international observation without conditions.” As with China, organised religion is seen as a major threat to the government. According to Manuel Orozco, of the Inter-American Dialogue: “Nicaraguans are very loyal to the church. In a survey I did last year, 70% of Nicaraguans say that to them, the political opinion of the religious authority at the national or the parochial level was important in shaping their political views.”
Orozco said the government is betting its pressure on the Church will not bring a “proportional response” from the international community. But what about the Vatican, largely equivocal on the subject? Surely the Latin American Pope needs to now address the situation more directly now. Ortega was a communist guerrilla who later attempt to mend his relationship with the Church, having invited clergy to mediate talks with protesters in 2018. But just days before the 2021 election, he accused bishops of having drafted a political proposal in 2018 on behalf “of the terrorists, at the service of the Yankees. … These bishops are also terrorists.”
The regime accused clerics of conspiracy after the Church demanded justice for hundreds who died in protests. Nicaragua also effectively expelled the Vatican’s ambassador to the country, with fears that Álvarez may now be forced into exile. Archbishop Sommertag had to leave the country, having lobbied for the release of government opponents. His expulsion was called “unjustified” by the Vatican. While the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States has expressed concern over the situation in Nicaragua, the general silence from the Vatican has been deafening, while the Pope’s comments on Sunday did not seem to match the gravity of the moment.
The Vatican ought now to recognise that the Church forms the main democratic opposition to Ortega, and – like China – is a threat to state tyranny since it acts as a counter to the regime and an alternative focal point for loyalty. But this is a Vatican which is still accommodating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through a deal which has done little to stop the persecution of Catholics, and is also doing little to speak up against the persecution of Christians worldwide. The Pope should now take a clear and unequivocal position with Ortega, a man who could inspire other tyrants, emboldened by the Vatican’s relative silence. Excommunication – or at least a warning of excommunication – not just words of disappointment, may be the next step against Ortega and his cronies.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.