Nicaragua: Restrictive measures against the Church on the rise

By Vatican News

The Nicaraguan government has forbidden the enactment of traditional posadas, the living nativity scenes created in the streets in the days leading up to Christmas.

In the Central American country, Christmas posadas involve a procession with the figures of Joseph and Mary, usually represented by children or adolescents, going from house to house in search of a shelter ("posada") for the baby Jesus who will be born.  Showing gratitude for the hospitality, the children sing songs before the nativity scene.

This year however, as reported by Nicaraguan human rights lawyer Martha Molina, the police have announced that they will not allow this type of celebration. Living nativity scenes will thus only be allowed inside churches.

The lawyer claims that President Ortega would have personally taken the decision.

Activists from various NGOs have reported that police officers have visited parishes to prevent priests from organizing these typical street celebrations of the Nicaraguan Christmas tradition.

This year, the persecution against the Church has experienced a progressive escalation. 2023 saw the highest number of attacks, with 275 recorded. These include the closure of organizations, and Catholic universities, bans, and the arrests of priests and religious figures.