3 Nicaraguan Bishops Get Death Threats

Plan Report for Pope

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MANAGUA, Nicaragua, AUG. 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Nicaraguan prelates are planning to inform Benedict XVI about the «dangerous situation of violence» in the Central American nation, where three bishops have received death threats.

The Nicaraguan episcopal conference will send the report to Rome through the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Henryk Jozef Nowacki.

The daily «La Prensa» reported Tuesday that Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara of Esteli received a death threat a few days ago after a statement from the Archdiocese of Managua lamented an Aug. 9 attack on citizens at a cultural event held on the property of the cathedral.

The attackers were supporters of the leftist President Daniel Ortega, the newspaper reported.

Bishop Bernardo Hombach of Granada and Bishop René Sándigo of Chontales have also received death threats.

«A bishop is at the direct service of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, and it is our duty to inform our superiors,» Bishop Mata said. «Our superiors are precisely the Holy Father and the people who advise him and support him in his governing.»

In the midst of the stir, the Nicaraguan attorney general of human rights, Omar Cabezas, speaking on the pro-government TV Channel 4, accused Bishops Mata and Hombach of being CIA agents.

Bishop Mata told «La Prensa» that such commentaries, and particularly from an authority figure, should fall on «deaf ears.»

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