Denver - Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has urged for greater action to be taken in response to the human rights violations that are occurring in Nicaragua. While Catholic organizations in the U.S. have moved quickly to offer aid and support to political exiles from the country, the Archbishop believes that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the crisis.
“I am proud and grateful that the Catholic community of the United States — from dioceses and local Catholic Charities agencies to Catholic Charities USA and the USCCB — was among those that mobilized quickly to welcome the Nicaraguan exiles as they were stripped of their citizenship before boarding the plane,” he said Feb. 21. “These 222 individuals were welcomed on U.S. soil on Feb. 9 and are being assisted by U.S. government authorities and partners.”
“How can any regime deny citizenship to its citizens?” Broglio asked.
The Ortega dictatorship deported 222 political prisoners to the United States on Feb. 9.
Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Maltagalpa, who had been detained since August on false charges, was recently sentenced to 26 years in prison, stripped of his citizenship, and fined a large sum of money. This is part of a broader pattern of government targeting of Catholic leaders and organizations, including the elimination of Church-affiliated groups and restrictions on religious observances.
The government has also taken action to repress Catholic media and drive out Catholic religious orders.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio has condemned the Nicaraguan regime's aggressive policies towards the Catholic Church and has called on the U.S. government and other partners to support the release of Bishop Álvarez and the restoration of human rights in Nicaragua. T
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami has offered hospitality and support to exiled priests and seminarians.
On Feb. 12 Pope Francis voiced his prayers for Álvarez, the 222 exiled political prisoners, and “for all those who are suffering.”
In 2019 Pope Francis ordered a former auxiliary bishop of Managua, Silvio José Báez, to leave Nicaragua when it became known that Ortega’s government had very likely ordered Báez’s assassination. The bishop is now living in exile in Miami.
Nicaragua has been governed since 2007 by President Daniel Ortega, who is a member of the Sandinista National Liberation Front party. Ortega's wife, Rosario Murillo, is now the vice president. The government has been accused of various abuses, including corruption, voter fraud, imprisoning journalists and dissenters, and committing violent human rights violations against the Nicaraguan people.