In recent years, the Catholic church in Nicaragua has been under assault by President Jose Daniel Ortega’s regime. Before 2018, when pro-democracy protests erupted in Nicaragua, the government recognized clergy members’ freedom of conscience and role as respected religious authorities for most Nicaraguans. In fact, during the protests, President Ortega enlisted the church to mediate between his government and those seeking his ouster. But, as the church became a refuge for those engaging in nonviolent action and some clergy criticized the government’s increasingly dictatorial actions, Ortega came to view the church as an enemy.

A former guerrilla fighter, Ortega first came to power in 1985 upon the overthrowing of the Somoza dictatorship by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). He governed until 1990 and returned to power in 2007. Since that time, he has utilized any means necessary to retain power, including rigging elections, arresting political opponents, and pressuring the church. In 2021, Ortega won reelection by a landslide by imprisoning opponents and disbanding their parties. As a tyrannical dictator, he also views the church and its influence over the population as a threat in his efforts to consolidate power.

The Ortega regime has continually demonstrated a lack of regard and repeated violations of fundamental freedoms granted in the country’s constitution. Codified in 1939, the constitution defines Nicaragua as a secular state with guaranteed freedom of religion. Although there is no official religion, the government has instituted community-level action groups called “family committees” to promote Christian values at the local level. It also provides a “special status” for the Catholic church, which predates the formation of the constitution. As such, the “church,” as it is referred to, has extensive societal and political influence. Registering as a religious group is not required, but church-operated charities and social service organizations are required to register. While 90% of the population identify as Christians, 75% of Nicaraguans are Catholic.

Since 2018, in addition to shutting down seven Catholic radio stations and other news outlets, Ortega’s regime revoked the legal status of multiple church-affiliated civil groups and social service organizations, as well as defunding a university. Prominent, influential Catholic leaders who were outspoken critics of the regime, such as Bishop Rolando Alveraz, who were outspoken critics were arrested and imprisoned on charges of organizing violent groups and carrying out hate crimes. Earlier, the papal nuncio, Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, was expelled. Since that time, other priests have been expelled, and some have been deported to the Vatican or the United States. Such actions by Ortega have intended to silence critics and cast fear among parishioners. Police are present at religious services and often photograph those attending to monitor and intimidate by such surveillance. Such tactics have been expanded to protestant churches as well. The effect has been dramatic restrictions on practicing religion and freedom of speech.

According to a report by Catholic News Agency, from 2018 through August 2023, “there were 193 attacks against bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, and women religious leaders. These include constant surveillance, threats, attempted murders, beatings, criminal proceedings, and exile. (…) The Ortega dictatorship has not hesitated to imprison and expel church leaders, expel nuns, shut down Catholic media outlets and charitable organizations, and seize money supporting the works of the church.” More than one hundred organizations were dissolved, many women’s ministries were shut down, and convents were confiscated. In 2022 and 2023, 65 women’s religious ministries were expelled, and six others were denied entry.

“In recent months, Nicaragua’s government has escalated its effort to silence dissent by waging a systematic campaign of repression against the Catholic church. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo’s crackdown on clergy and church-affiliated organizations critical of their authoritarian regime not only threatens Nicaragua’s religious freedom but also erects significant roadblocks to the country’s return to peace and democracy.”

The extent of persecution and attempts to silence the church have dramatically increased in recent years. According to Open Doors’ World Watch List of the 50 top violators of religious freedom, Nicaragua jumped from a ranking of 50 in 2023 to 30 in 2024. In addition, in November 2022, the U.S. State Department designated Nicaragua as a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in severe violations of religious freedom. This designation was renewed in January 2024.

Also in January, the USCIRF issued a statement condemning Nicaragua for its arbitrary detention of priests. The statement reads as follows: “USCIRF is outraged that the Nicaraguan government has chosen to continue its brutal crackdown on members of the Catholic church for speaking out about the religious freedom and human rights violations occurring in the country,” USCIRF Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie said. “It has become increasingly clear that President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo are intent on silencing the voice of any individual peacefully following the dictates of their conscience.”  The USCIRF urges Congress to pass proposed bipartisan legislation, Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2023. This bill provides for sanctions against perpetrators of religious and human rights violations in consultation with the investigative work of the United Nations Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua.

Source: International Christian Concern

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