#BreakingNews 7 Religious Arrested by Nicaragua's Government in December - 5 Priests and 2 Bishops Kidnapped by the Police
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5 priests were kidnapped in the last 48 hours in Nicaragua. In the last 48 hours, the Daniel Ortega regime, through the Sandinista Police, has kidnapped five priests of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, denounced researcher and lawyer Martha Patricia Molina.
Among the kidnapped religious in December 2023 are: Marcos Díaz Prado, kidnapped December 29, vicar of the Santo Tomás Apóstol church of Puerto de Corinto, Fr Héctor Treminio, kidnapped December 28, of the Santo Cristo de Esquipulas parish of the Archdiocese of Managua, Fr Fernando Calero, kidnapped December 28, Parish priest of Our Lady of Fátima Rancho Grande, Fr Carlos Avilés, kidnapped December 20, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Managua and Monsignor Pablo Villafranca, kidnapped December 26, of the Parish of Our Lord of Veracruz, municipality of Nindirí, Masaya, Bishops Monsignor Oscar Oscoto, kidnapped December 22, and Bishop Isidora Mora, kidnapped December 20.
Molina pointed out that the whereabouts of the kidnapped priests are unknown.
“Sandinista police kidnap priest Fernando Calero, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fátima Rancho Grande. His whereabouts are unknown,” denounced Molina, author of the study titled 'Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?', through her social network account X (formerly Twitter).
She adds “The kidnappings of the Ortega Murillo dictatorship in Nicaragua against priests continue. “Father Marcos Díaz Prado of the Diocese of León was kidnapped this morning and his whereabouts are unknown.”
Thus, the state repression in the Central American country against the Catholic Church continues. There are already more than 70 priests expelled from the country and more imprisoned, including two bishops; Monsignor Isidoro Mora and Monsignor Rolando Alvarez.
Given the intensification of repression against the exiled Nicaraguan bishop, Monsignor Silvio José Báez condemned the arrests. He wrote on X:
“I am outraged by the unjust kidnapping of three beloved priests of Managua by the criminal Sandinista dictatorship: Father Pablo Villafranca, Bishop Carlos Avilés and Father Héctor Treminio, pastors and prophets. I ask God to protect them and to be released immediately!”
An exiled priest, Fr Uriel Vallejos, lamented the persecution. “I believe that Catholic parishioners and people of good will have to defend our pastors and free the people from the diabolical clutches. It's time to wake up inside and out. No longer asleep, the darkness advances! We want unity and strategies, Now!”
Human rights defender Haydee Castillo wrote:
"This is unacceptable. In three days there are already 4 Priests kidnapped: Pablo Villafranca, Priest Héctor Treminio and Priest Carlos Avilez. “Pontifex, how far are we going to go?” Castillo wrote, questioning Pope Francis’ silence.
He adds, “I call on all citizens of good faith and the episcopal conferences to convene ourselves to seek more civic but effective options in the face of so much barbarity. There are more than 100 political prisoners, thousands forced into exile, who will wait longer to act together.”
The Civic Alliance said:
“The Catholic Church, throughout history, has played a vital role in promoting the fundamental values of justice and peace. "We stand in solidarity with the Catholic people in the face of the constant siege on religious temples."
Given the intensification of repression against the exiled Nicaraguan bishop, Monsignor Silvio José Báez condemned the arrests. He wrote on X:
“I am outraged by the unjust kidnapping of three beloved priests of Managua by the criminal Sandinista dictatorship: Father Pablo Villafranca, Bishop Carlos Avilés and Father Héctor Treminio, pastors and prophets. I ask God to protect them and to be released immediately!”
An exiled priest, Fr Uriel Vallejos, lamented the persecution. “I believe that Catholic parishioners and people of good will have to defend our pastors and free the people from the diabolical clutches. It's time to wake up inside and out. No longer asleep, the darkness advances! We want unity and strategies, Now!”
Human rights defender Haydee Castillo wrote:
"This is unacceptable. In three days there are already 4 Priests kidnapped: Pablo Villafranca, Priest Héctor Treminio and Priest Carlos Avilez. “Pontifex, how far are we going to go?” Castillo wrote, questioning Pope Francis’ silence.
He adds, “I call on all citizens of good faith and the episcopal conferences to convene ourselves to seek more civic but effective options in the face of so much barbarity. There are more than 100 political prisoners, thousands forced into exile, who will wait longer to act together.”
The Civic Alliance said:
“The Catholic Church, throughout history, has played a vital role in promoting the fundamental values of justice and peace. "We stand in solidarity with the Catholic people in the face of the constant siege on religious temples."
Sources: 100 Noticias and https://confidencial.digital/nacion/denuncian-secuestro-de-monsenor-oscar-escoto-vicario-general-de-la-diocesis-de-matagalpa/
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