His life will take a turn for the better.
In a recent development, Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, previously imprisoned for speaking out against the government’s human rights violations targeting the Catholic Church and its members, has been released alongside 18 other clergy members. This release occurred as part of negotiations between the Nicaraguan government and the Vatican. All but one of the released individuals have arrived in Rome and were warmly welcomed as “guests of the Holy See.”
Bishop Álvarez had been serving a 26-year prison sentence since February, convicted of “undermining national integrity” in a trial that took him by surprise. Initially restricted from celebrating mass, he was confined to his residence in August 2022 and subsequently arrested and held in prison. This imprisonment was part of a broader crackdown on the Catholic Church by the regime of President Daniel Ortega, who accused clergy members of supporting mass protests in 2018 calling for his resignation.
Tensions between the government and the Catholic Church had been escalating since April 2018, amid civil unrest driven by economic challenges. The Church, providing shelter and support to protestors demanding reforms and the resignation of President Ortega, became a target of government actions, facing allegations of religious persecution as clergy members and places of worship were attacked.
Bishop Álvarez, who advocated for the Church to act as a mediator in 2018, faced severe restrictions, including house arrest and a ban on celebrating mass. He was later arrested without a warrant and charged with various offenses, including “undermining national integrity” and “propagation of false news,” all linked to his sermons exposing government human rights violations.
The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing, urging the release of Bishop Álvarez. Exiled prisoners of conscience testified about their experiences, revealing threats and interrogations aimed at implicating Álvarez in a coup d’état plot.
Despite international appeals, Álvarez was stripped of nationality and citizenship rights, sentenced to over 26 years in prison, and fined. This situation prompted calls from Rep. Chris Smith for Álvarez’s release and travel to the United States or the Vatican. The broader context highlighted the Nicaraguan government’s crackdown on religious freedom, including the expulsion of the Missionaries of Charity and restrictions on Catholic institutions.
As the released clergy members seek refuge in Rome, the international community remains vigilant, urging respect for human rights and religious freedom in Nicaragua. The ordeal reflects the ongoing challenges faced by individuals of faith in the country and emphasizes the importance of global attention to such violations.