The Nicaraguan priests José Iván Centeno, Julio Ricardo Norori and Cristóbal Reynaldo Gadea was arrested by the national police amid tensions between Government of President Daniel Ortega and the Catholic Church, he condemned auxiliary bishop of Managua in exile, Silvio José Báez, and researcher Martha Patricia Molina.
The first two priests, both from the Diocese of Estelí, in northern Nicaragua, were arrested Sunday night “by the Sandinista dictatorship of Daniel Ortega,” Báez wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
A third priest, who belongs to the Diocese of Jinotega (North), was also caught on Sunday night, according to the Panorama Católico portal and researcher Molina, who is the author of a study called “Nicaragua: Persecuted Church?” and which monitors the situation of priests in that country.
Bishop Báez, who is in exile in the United States for security reasons and at the request of Pope Francis, said the “fierce persecution against the Catholic Church continues” by Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo.
And he asked “the Church throughout the world to pray for Nicaragua and for our persecuted Church.”
The National Police, led by Francisco Díaz, the father-in-law of the Nicaraguan presidential couple, neither confirmed nor denied the alleged arrests of the three priests.
“Night of Long Knives for the Catholic Church”
He priest José Iván Centeno is the owner Parish of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the municipality of Jalapa, department of Nueva Segovia, and pastor Julio Ricardo Norori of the temple of San Juan Evangelista, in the municipality of San Juan del Río Coco, department of Madriz, both bordering Honduras.
Both belong to the diocese of Estelí, whose apostolic administrator, Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, was sentenced last February to 26 years and 4 months in prison for crimes considered treason.
The parish led by Centeno asked for “prayers for our parish and our priests” through its Facebook account on Sunday afternoon, without giving further details, after which the priest was arrested.
Gadea is the parish priest of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, in the municipality of El Cuá, department of Jinotega.
Molina described the new arrests as “a night of long knives for the Catholic Church” and assured that agents “visited” a total of eight priests, three of whom were arrested.
Various Nicaraguan organizations in exile requested this Monday the release of the monks and respect for their physical integrity.
Relations between Ortega’s government and the Catholic Church They were marked by the expulsion and imprisonment of priests, the banning of religious activities and the termination of diplomatic relations.
Pope Francis called the Sandinista government a “shameless dictatorship” in an interview with Infobae, pointing out the “imbalance in the person who leads” the country.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
