Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo, have banned the ordination of priests and deacons in four dioceses in Nicaragua whose bishops remain in exile.
The measure exacerbates a pastoral crisis already marked by years of religious persecution, although vocations continue.
The four dioceses without a bishop present in the country are Jinotega, Siuna, Mataga...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights the Nicaraguan regime's systematic suppression of religious freedom, particularly targeting the Catholic Church. The government's ban on ordinations in specific dioceses, coupled with the exile of bishops and surveillance of clergy, demonstrates a clear pattern of control and intimidation. The Church's resilience—conducting secret ordinations abroad and maintaining vocations—underscores its commitment to its mission despite persecution. However,...