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Nicaragua’s crusade against Catholicism
In the heart of Central America, a troubling saga unfolds as Nicaragua’s Catholic community finds itself under siege. President Daniel Ortega’s government has launched a systematic and far-reaching campaign to silence and suppress the Catholic Church, viewing it as a formidable threat to his increasingly authoritarian rule. This crackdown has not only shaken the foundations of religious freedom in the country but has also sent shockwaves through the international community.
The roots of this conflict trace back to 2018 when widespread anti-government protests erupted across Nicaragua. The Catholic Church, true to its historical role as a mediator and advocate for the people, played a significant part in these events. Church leaders offered sanctuary to protesters and called for peaceful dialogue. However, this stance put them squarely in the crosshairs of the Ortega regime, which violently suppressed the protests and began viewing the Church as an enemy of the state.
Since then, the government’s actions against the Catholic Church have been both systematic and severe. The Ortega regime has expelled 19 priests from the country, including the Papal Nuncio — the Vatican’s ambassador — in March 2022. This unprecedented move signaled a sharp deterioration in relations between Nicaragua and the Holy See. Churches have been desecrated, and religious symbols…
