On the day of the most heartfelt Marian feast in the Central American country, the Immaculate Conception, the Catholic Church once again denounced the harsh repression against the suffering people and the persecution against the Church itself. This time it was Mgr. Abelardo Mata, Bishop of Esteli, who met journalists at the end of the Mass for the Immaculate Conception who informed about the latest events in his diocese, reported Fides News Agency.
First of all, the Bishop himself had to intervene to free Fr. Ramón Alcides Peña Silva, parish priest of the church of Jicaro, who had been arrested by the police on Saturday, December 7, around 7 pm, while he was returning from a celebration in the church of Nueva Segovia.
The priest, according to Fides sources, was detained for 12 hours on charges of «disturbing public order», while, according to the words written by the priest himself on social media, he had only gone to celebrate mass.
Mgr. Mata then referred to the large presence of the police around the cathedral of Esteli, with the intention of intimidating the faithful.
The priests are by the side of the suffering people of Nicaragua every day. The government is afraid that the people will express themselves because they know that they do not agree with the proposed programs.
«Together with the peasants, young people are addressing all Nicaraguan citizens a strong call to their conscience, personal and social conscience,» concluded Mgr. Mata.
