Nicaragua: Police entered the episcopal curia and took Monsignor Rolando Álvarez away
From the diocese of Matagalpa it was confirmed that in the early morning of this Friday, August 19, the Ortega police raided the curia where Monsignor Rolando Álvarez remained with five priests and three laity. As the hours passed, the police themselves issued a statement in which they affirm that Álvarez remains under "house arrest" in Managua.
The Ortega police issued a statement on Friday, August 19, after the news of Álvarez's kidnapping was known, in which it states that Álvarez remains in "home protection" in Managua and that he has been able to reunite with relatives, while the rest of the collaborators were taken to the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ), known as the new Chipote.
The statement also indicates that Álvarez has been able to see Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, vice president of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN).
The entrance to the episcopal curia in the early morning
Earlier, the diocese of Matagalpa reported through a brief message on social networks the following: "At this time the National Police has entered the Episcopal Curia of our diocese."
Media such as La Prensa de Nicaragua published that "unofficially" it was known that both Álvarez and the eight collaborators with whom he remained in the episcopal curia "were taken out by agents without knowing so far about their whereabouts.
However, other media such as El Confidencial reported that the police left Óscar Escoto, parish priest of the Santa María de Guadalupe church, at the headquarters of the episcopal curia. The police themselves confirmed in the statement that it was left without police or mobility restrictions.
Also that religious sources confirmed that Álvarez was taken in a vehicle, separated from the rest in the middle of an operation led by the police chief of Matagalpa, Sergio Gutiérrez, in addition to the general commissioner Ramón Avellán, deputy director of the police
On the other hand, in the last hours it also transpired that the regime of Daniel Ortega deported the chorister Henry Corvera to El Salvador, who together with the cameraman Flavio Castro had left the episcopal curia on Tuesday. Days earlier, on August 8, another of the choristers, Sujin Membreño, also left after negotiations between her family and the regime, as reported.
The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam) also referred to what happened with Álvarez and indicated the following through Twitter: "We alert the international community and join the chain of prayer."
16 days held
This August 19 marked 16 days of confinement of Álvarez with his collaborators in the headquarters of the episcopal curia, a situation that had begun on August 4 after one of the most striking images of recent times when the bishop was seen confronting the Ortega police with the Blessed Sacrament in his hands.
During the time in the episcopal curia, both Álvarez and his family dedicated themselves to prayer and even to the celebration of mass transmitted through social networks. His first appearance after being held was on August 11, at which point he reflected on forgiveness and hope during the homily.
Álvarez also appeared during the Mass for the solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, while the last time he was seen was this August 18, also with transmissions of the Mass and the rosary, along with his collaborators.
His last message on social networks, before it was announced that he had been taken by the Ortega police, was the following: "Let's worry about wearing the party suit in the Kingdom of God."
What happened with Álvarez, a case whose outcome is still unfolding, is part of the long list of actions of the Daniel Ortega regime against the Church of Nicaragua that have occurred in a special way since 2018, but that have been accentuated in recent weeks through the siege of priests, including Uriel Vallejosand Óscar Benavidez (they ask for 90 days in prison to investigate it).
But also what happened before with the expulsion of the Missionaries of Charity and the closure of several Catholic stations. The same with another of the images that have generated consternation: faithful communing behind a fence after the police prevented them from entering the temple.
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