Tension Grows Between Government, Catholic Church in Nicaragua
2022-08-21
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1A conflict is worsening between Nicaragua's government and the country's Roman Catholic Church.
2The government recently closed seven of the Church's radio stations.
3It also began investigating Church official Rolando Álvarez who has criticized Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
4Ortega accuses the man of stirring up violence "to carry out acts of hate against the population."
5This is not the first time Ortega has acted against critics of his administration.
6Throughout 2021, officials arrested seven candidates seeking presidential office in that year's November elections.
7The conflict between the government and local Roman Catholic Church leaders is in its fifth year.
8Here is a look at the history of the situation and those involved.
9President Daniel Ortega is 76 years old and a former militant with the Sandinista National Liberation Front.
10He helped overthrow the country's dictator, Anastasio Somoza, in 1979.
11Ortega first served as president from 1985 until 1990 when he was voted out of office.
12He returned as president in 2007. In voting last year, he won a fourth term.
13However, the election has been widely discredited because he faced no real opposition.
14Social security reform in 2018 led to massive demonstrations, supported by businesspeople and Catholic leaders.
15Nicaraguan security forces and civilian militants killed at least 355 people in answer to the activism, reported the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
16Another 2,000 were wounded and 1,600 jailed in the government offensive, it said.
17Political unease continued in the country, however.
18Months before last year's vote, a public opinion study found that support for five opposition candidates put Ortega's re-election in question.
19Within weeks all five were arrested, along with two other candidates.
20Roman Catholicism is the main religion in Nicaragua.
21The Church supported the Sandinista party after Somoza left office.
22But political differences between the party and the Church damaged their relationship over time.
23The Church has been supportive of the protesters and their cause.
24In April 2018, the Church sheltered student demonstrators in the capital, Managua.
25It also provided food and money to support them.
26High-level Church officials, including Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes and Managua Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez, openly criticized violence against political activists.
27Brenes said the protests were just and well-reasoned actions.
28Báez rejected any political decision that would harm the people.
29He left the country in 2019 at the request of officials in Vatican City, the Roman Catholic Church's headquarters in Italy.
30Ortega has answered by accusing some church officials of being part of a plot to overthrow him, calling them "terrorists."
31The church radio stations were closed by the government August 1.
32Police investigating Álvarez accused him of "organizing violent groups."
33Álvarez has called for electoral reforms for what he described as "the democratization of the country."
34He also demanded the release of about 190 people he says are political prisoners.
35Since August 3, officials have restricted Álvarez to the Church complex where he lives.
36On Thursday, he appeared in a live social media broadcast of a religious service at the complex.
37Ten other people, also barred from leaving the complex, appeared with him on the broadcast.
38The next day, Church leaders announced that the government had banned a planned religious march for security reasons.
39The church asked its members to attend a service at the complex, instead.
40Hundreds of Nicaraguans answered the call, attending the service under a heavy police presence.
41For almost two weeks, the Vatican was publicly silent about the investigation of Álvarez.
42Some Latin American human rights activists criticized the Church's silence.
43Juan Antonio Cruz is the Vatican's representative in the intergovernmental group, the Organization of American States (OAS).
44Cruz expressed concern about the situation and asked both parties to "seek ways of understanding."
45I'm Dan Novak.
1A conflict is worsening between Nicaragua's government and the country's Roman Catholic Church. 2The government recently closed seven of the Church's radio stations. It also began investigating Church official Rolando Álvarez who has criticized Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. 3Ortega accuses the man of stirring up violence "to carry out acts of hate against the population." 4This is not the first time Ortega has acted against critics of his administration. Throughout 2021, officials arrested seven candidates seeking presidential office in that year's November elections. 5The conflict between the government and local Roman Catholic Church leaders is in its fifth year. Here is a look at the history of the situation and those involved. 6Who is Daniel Ortega? 7President Daniel Ortega is 76 years old and a former militant with the Sandinista National Liberation Front. He helped overthrow the country's dictator, Anastasio Somoza, in 1979. 8Ortega first served as president from 1985 until 1990 when he was voted out of office. 9He returned as president in 2007. In voting last year, he won a fourth term. However, the election has been widely discredited because he faced no real opposition. 10How did the unrest begin? 11Social security reform in 2018 led to massive demonstrations, supported by businesspeople and Catholic leaders. Nicaraguan security forces and civilian militants killed at least 355 people in answer to the activism, reported the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Another 2,000 were wounded and 1,600 jailed in the government offensive, it said. 12Political unease continued in the country, however. 13Months before last year's vote, a public opinion study found that support for five opposition candidates put Ortega's re-election in question. Within weeks all five were arrested, along with two other candidates. 14How has the church been involved? 15Roman Catholicism is the main religion in Nicaragua. The Church supported the Sandinista party after Somoza left office. But political differences between the party and the Church damaged their relationship over time. 16The Church has been supportive of the protesters and their cause. In April 2018, the Church sheltered student demonstrators in the capital, Managua. It also provided food and money to support them. 17High-level Church officials, including Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes and Managua Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez, openly criticized violence against political activists. Brenes said the protests were just and well-reasoned actions. 18Báez rejected any political decision that would harm the people. He left the country in 2019 at the request of officials in Vatican City, the Roman Catholic Church's headquarters in Italy. 19Ortega has answered by accusing some church officials of being part of a plot to overthrow him, calling them "terrorists." 20What about the latest church-government conflict? 21The church radio stations were closed by the government August 1. Police investigating Álvarez accused him of "organizing violent groups." 22Álvarez has called for electoral reforms for what he described as "the democratization of the country." He also demanded the release of about 190 people he says are political prisoners. 23Since August 3, officials have restricted Álvarez to the Church complex where he lives. On Thursday, he appeared in a live social media broadcast of a religious service at the complex. Ten other people, also barred from leaving the complex, appeared with him on the broadcast. 24The next day, Church leaders announced that the government had banned a planned religious march for security reasons. The church asked its members to attend a service at the complex, instead. Hundreds of Nicaraguans answered the call, attending the service under a heavy police presence. 25What is the reaction from the Vatican? 26For almost two weeks, the Vatican was publicly silent about the investigation of Álvarez. Some Latin American human rights activists criticized the Church's silence. 27Juan Antonio Cruz is the Vatican's representative in the intergovernmental group, the Organization of American States (OAS). 28Cruz expressed concern about the situation and asked both parties to "seek ways of understanding." 29I'm Dan Novak. 30Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 31____________________________________________________________________ 32We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 33Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.