US Bishops Express Solidarity with the Catholic Church in Nicaragua after Abduction of Bishop and Arrest of Priests, Seminarians and Lay Worker
WASHINGTON - As threats to the Catholic Church in Nicaragua grow amidst the local social and political crisis, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued the following statement:
“In 2018, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio travelled to Nicaragua to express USCCB’s solidarity with our brother bishops in that country. In his homily at the Cathedral of Managua he memorably said, ‘I see the commitment of your bishops as a sign of God’s love.’ In the last few weeks, the Nicaraguan bishops have, once again, heroically demonstrated the enduring validity of that sentiment.
“In light of the growing crisis, Monsignor Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States, recently stated that ‘the Holy See cannot fail to express its concern,’ and he appealed ‘to the parties to find ways of understanding, based on respect and mutual trust, seeking above all the common good and peace.’
“Today, I express our continued steadfast solidarity with our brothers in the Nicaraguan episcopate, along with their priests and foreign missionaries, in their calling to freely proclaim the Gospel and live the faith. The faith of the Nicaraguan people, who stand in solidarity with their bishops and priests, is an inspiration for us all.”
USCCB Release
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