Catholic University in Nicaragua is Confiscated by the Government as it was Judged to be a “center of terrorism”
Jesuits of Canada and the United States Issue Statement on the Nicaraguan Government’s Seizure of the University of Central America
August 17, 2023 — The Jesuits’ University of Central America (UCA) in Managua, Nicaragua, was confiscated by the government on August 16, reports America magazine. The university’s bank accounts had been frozen by government officials on August 9.(Image - Courtesy of UCA’s Facebook page)
A letter issued by the judge who ordered the seizure described the university as a “center of terrorism,” accusing its administrators and educators of “betraying the trust of the Nicaraguan people” and of “transgressing against the constitutional order.”
A statement from the Central American Province of the Society of Jesus released on August 16 called the accusations against the Jesuits at UCA “totally false and unfounded” and described the university’s seizure as part of “government policy that is systematically violating [human] rights … [and] aimed at consolidating a totalitarian state.”
La Prensa Nicaragua shared a photo of UCA staff removing the crucifix from the university chapel for safekeeping:
In the statement, the Jesuits said this latest move against the university is part of a pattern of government oppression: “unjustified attacks against the Nicaraguan population and other educational and social institutions of civil society that are generating a climate of violence and insecurity and exacerbating the country’s sociopolitical crisis.”
Founded by the Jesuits in 1960, the university was the nation’s first private institution of higher education. Before it was forced to suspend operations yesterday, there were approximately 9,500 undergrad and graduate students attending UCA.
Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States Denounces the Nicaraguan
Government’s Seizure of the University of Central America
The Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States is alarmed and troubled by the unjust
confiscation of the University of Central America (UCA) in Managua by the government
of Nicaragua. The UCA is internationally known for providing an outstanding education to
thousands of students in the Jesuit and Catholic tradition since its founding in 1960. The seizure
of the university is a blatant violation of academic and religious freedom.
We stand in solidarity with the Jesuits of Nicaragua and the faculty, staff and students of the
UCA in rejecting the false accusations made against the university and in condemning the
government’s actions.
We echo the call of the Jesuit Central American Province for the Nicaraguan government to
reverse and correct its decision and to end the aggression against the UCA community. We ask
the United States and Canadian governments to join us in denouncing this grave injustice and in
insisting on a just resolution. We pray that truth, justice, dialogue and freedom will prevail.
Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ
Provincial, USA West Province
Fr. Thomas P. Greene, SJ
Provincial, USA Central and Southern Province
Fr. Karl Kiser, SJ
Provincial, USA Midwest Province
Fr. Joseph M. O’Keefe, SJ
Provincial, USA East Province
Fr. Erik Oland, SJ
Provincial, Canada Province
Fr. Brian G. Paulson, SJ
President, Jesuit Conference of Canada
and the United States
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