Police in Nicaragua arrested four more priests Saturday; Reuters reports that a total of 12 priests have been arrested in the past three days, adding to President Daniel Ortega's campaign against the Catholic Church.
Persecution of priests in Nicaragua
Daniel Ortega, who has ruled the Central American country since 2007, has been battling church and political opponents. In August 2022, Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a staunch critic of Ortega, was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
According to sources and local media, the four priests were taken from their homes on Saturday morning. They all serve in the Archdiocese of Managua, the country's capital.
Ortega accuses priests of plotting coup
Among those detained were two priests – Michael Monterrey and Raul Zamora – who in 2018 opened the doors of their parishes to students from two universities attacked by government forces as part of a crackdown on protests.
After these protests, Ortega accused priests of plotting. The bishops appealed to the president to bring justice to the hundreds of people killed by security forces at the time and to hold early elections.
KW
Photo Credit: Police in Nicaragua arrested four more priests on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Pixabay
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