North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a joint hearing, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chair María Elvira Salazar and Human Rights Subcommittee Chair Chris Smith condemned the ongoing persecution of Catholic religious leaders in Nicaragua under the Ortega/Murillo regime. The focus of the hearing was the unjust imprisonment of Catholic Bishop of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, and the broader persecution faced by the Catholic community in Nicaragua.

Chairwoman Salazar expressed her outrage at the Ortega regime's audacity to target Bishop Álvarez and the Catholic Church. She sent a clear message to Ortega and Murillo, stating, "Don't think that you are going to get away with this. This man must be free."

Monsignor Álvarez was detained by the Ortega regime in August 2022 on false charges of undermining national integrity and spreading false news. His imprisonment has turned him into a symbol of Catholic resistance against Ortega's oppressive rule.

During the hearing, two Catholic clergymen from Nicaragua, along with a parent of another clergyman, testified as witnesses. Due to the brutal nature of the Ortega regime, their identities were concealed to protect them from further harm. Deborah Ullmer, Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean Programs at the National Democratic Institute, also provided testimony.

Chairwoman Salazar vehemently condemned the Ortega regime's actions, labeling them as agents of evil in their war against the Catholic Church. She called upon dictators Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to release Monsignor Álvarez without forcing him into exile.

The Catholic Church has previously highlighted the state of religious freedom in the world, specifically focusing on the Ortega regime's persecution of those who profess the Christian faith. The Ortega regime's willingness to target their own people distinguishes them among the socialist leaders in Latin America.

Nicaragua is currently listed as a Country of Particular Concern by the State Department for severe violations of religious freedom. However, the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) or Sandinistas, who are guilty of similar crimes, are not included in the list of Entities of Particular Concern, which identifies organizations that suppress religious freedom. Chairwoman Salazar has called for the Sandinistas to be included in this list through a recent letter.

The joint hearing shed light on the ongoing persecution faced by the Catholic Church in Nicaragua under the Ortega/Murillo regime. Chairwoman Salazar and Congressman Smith's condemnation of the regime's actions serves as a reminder of the importance of religious freedom and the need to protect the rights of individuals to practice their faith without fear of persecution.

To access the full hearing, please click here. For more details on the hearing, click here.

To learn more, click on this link: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-demands-satanic-ortegamurillo-regime-free-bishop-rolando-alvarez-end