Nicaragua Detains 80-Year-Old Bishop as Christian Crackdown Continues
Nicaraguan authorities detained an 80-year-old Roman Catholic bishop and three other church leaders this week. The government has also barred the ordination of new priests, and a Catholic lawyer died in custody with signs of torture.
Nicaraguan authorities detained an 80-year-old Roman Catholic bishop and three other Catholic leaders this week, the latest move in an ongoing crackdown on Christians in the country.
The government has also barred the ordination of new priests, cutting off the pipeline of future clergy. A Catholic lawyer died in custody, and officials say the body showed signs of torture.
The detentions drew sharp condemnation from religious freedom advocates. Open Doors USA and other watchdog groups have tracked Nicaragua as one of the most dangerous countries in the Western Hemisphere for Christians.
President Daniel Ortega's government has expelled foreign missionaries, seized church properties, and shuttered Catholic radio stations over the past several years. The latest arrests signal the crackdown is deepening.
Church leaders outside Nicaragua called for international pressure on the Ortega government. The U.S. State Department has previously sanctioned Nicaraguan officials over religious persecution, though enforcement has been inconsistent.
The detained bishop has not been formally charged. His family says they have received no information about his condition or location.
