The President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has blocked the bank accounts of several entities related to the Catholic Church. Among them are parishes, schools, radio stations, the Episcopal Conference itself and certain dioceses.
According to a press release issued by the police force of the country, the organizations are accused of “illicit activity in the handling of funds in bank accounts that had belonged to persons convicted of treason.”
Accusations of treason are common in Nicaragua under the Ortega regime. The country's Bishop Rolando Álvarez has even been sentenced to 26 years in prison for the charge of treason.
The regime is also known for accusations of money laundering. In 2022, they expelled the Missionaries of Charity and dissolved over one hundred other associations. These actions were denounced by journalists who were also exiled from the country.
ISRAEL GONZÁLEZ ESPINOZA
Exiled Nicaraguan Journalist
There is no logical explanation or legal basis for the expulsion of the Missionary Sisters of Charity. In fact, the association was suspended by the National Assembly, which is a body that is completely controlled by Daniel Ortega's regime.
Freezing the bank accounts of Catholic organizations is one more step in the repression that Nicaragua has launched against the Church since 2018, when it became a target of the regime for opening the doors of churches to shelter protesters who were at risk of violence by the government.
RM
