(ZENIT News / Managua, 12.05.2024).- The authoritarian government of Daniel Ortega is accelerating its crackdown on religious communities in Nicaragua, issuing an ultimatum for all remaining nuns to leave the country by the end of the year. This development, highlighted by legal expert and researcher Martha Patricia Molina, signals an intensification of the regime’s campaign against the Catholic Church and its institutions.
Nuns Ordered to Exit by December
According to Molina, the remaining nuns in Nicaragua are now preparing to leave under duress. “In the coming weeks, border checkpoints and airports will see an influx of religious women departing, as the dictatorship has mandated their exit by December,” Molina wrote on social media platform X.
Many of these nuns are expected to seek refuge in Latin American countries where their congregations already have established communities. The regime has systematically dissolved nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Church, effectively cutting off the nuns’ legal framework to operate within the country. Properties tied to these congregations have reportedly been confiscated by the state.
Escalating Persecution of Priests
In tandem with the pressure on nuns, priests continue to face harassment, exile, and denial of entry into Nicaragua. Most recently, on November 29, Molina reported the forced expulsion of Father Asdrúbal Zeledón Ruiz of the Diocese of Jinotega.
Earlier in the month, the Ortega regime blocked the return of two other priests to the country, effectively exiling them. Meanwhile, Father Floriano Ceferino Vargas was detained by authorities following a Mass in San Martín Church in Nueva Guinea, only to be swiftly expelled to Panama. This reflects a growing trend: instead of prolonged detention, priests are now being arbitrarily arrested and promptly deported.
Years of Systematic Repression
The persecution of religious figures in Nicaragua is not new but has intensified dramatically since April 2018. Molina’s research indicates that over 250 members of the clergy and religious orders have been expelled, exiled, or forced to flee due to travel restrictions and threats.
This repression aligns with Ortega’s broader efforts to silence dissenting voices and consolidate power. The Catholic Church, a vocal advocate for human rights and mediator in political crises, has been a particular target.
Confiscation and Erasure of Religious Presence
Beyond the expulsions, the Ortega regime has stripped religious organizations of their legal status and seized Church-owned properties. This strategy not only removes immediate opposition but also seeks to erase the longstanding influence of the Church on Nicaraguan society.
A Humanitarian Crisis in the Making
The forced displacement of nuns, priests, and other religious figures is symptomatic of a deeper humanitarian and human rights crisis in Nicaragua. As international condemnation mounts, the Ortega regime appears unfazed, continuing to implement measures that isolate the country from global norms and dismantle internal resistance.
The fate of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua remains uncertain, but its forced exodus leaves a void in a country already grappling with political repression and societal fractures.
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