A Conversation with EWTN on Religious Freedom in Nicaragua
Nicaraguan NGO: Biometric Entry Required in Some Protestant Churches
In a recent interview on EWTN, I spoke with Tracy Sabol again about the profound situation surrounding religious freedom in Nicaragua. The discussion details the harrowing reality that many of our brothers and sisters in faith are facing under the Ortega-Murillo regime. Unfortunately, this narrative remains underreported but is crucial for responsible nations to understand and act upon. The interview is embedded at the end of this post.
Nicaragua's current predicament highlights an unprecedented crackdown on religious freedoms, particularly affecting Protestant leaders and their congregations. In a shocking move, the Ortega regime sentenced 11 Protestant leaders from Puerta de la Montaña, a ministry closely affiliated with a church in Texas, to staggering prison terms ranging from 12 to 15 years. These leaders were fined a colossal $880 million under the guise of money laundering charges following their successful evangelistic events across the country.
This action against Puerta de la Montaña is not just an isolated incident but a reflection of a broader, more systemic issue of religious repression in Nicaragua. I have worked with religious and civil society leaders in and out of Nicaragua for many years. A two-tier system is being set up, with the help of the Cuban intelligence services, that includes churches that have the government's support and those that do not.
Sabol and I discuss the complex dynamics between Protestant churches and the government, highlighting how these religious institutions, which once enjoyed a semblance of tolerance or even support from the state, now find themselves at the mercy of the political whims of the system. This scenario not only undermines the religious freedom of these groups but also poses a threat to the Catholic Church and other religious institutions in Nicaragua.
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