Our prayers are encouraged for the Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez, after just being condemned to 26 years in prison for defending his priests and his people. President Daniel Ortega accused Catholic leaders of being a “gang of murderers,” claiming that bishops in Nicaragua called on protesters to kill him during 2018 demonstrations. He also scorned Pope Francis’ call for dialogue in the country. Ortega (who considers himself a Catholic) won the elections in 2021 after disqualifying and imprisoning opposition candidates. Since then, his regime has persecuted priests and bishops standing for the defense of human rights and democratic institutions. In fact, the Catholic Church in Nicaragua has gone through more than 190 attacks and desecrations, including a fire in the Managua Cathedral, the expulsion of the missioners of Charity, the prohibition of traditional feasts and processions, and the highly irregular house arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, accused of ‘crimes against spirituality.’ The priests who were arrested with him are kept in El Chipote prison, where the regime keeps its political prisoners. Pope Francis said recently ‘I am following closely, with concern and sorrow, the situation created in Nicaragua that involves persons and institutions. 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.’ A Nicaraguan court sentenced Bishop Rolando Alvarez to more than 26 years in prison on Friday, a day after the cleric and critic of President Daniel Ortega declined to be expelled to the United States as part of a prisoner release. 222 priests opponents of Ortega were expelled to the USA. European Bishops have joined Latin American episcopates and Pope Francis in expressing solidarity with the Church in Nicaragua. Alvarez, bishop of the Matagalpa diocese, was convicted of treason, undermining national integrity and spreading false news, among other charges. During Friday's court hearing it was also announced that he would be fined and stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship. Like St. Oscar Romero, the Bishop of El Salvador who was killed in 1980 by his regime, Alvarez is sacrificing his life defending his people and his priests.
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