Priest arrested in Nicaragua following Mass on New Year's Eve

Fr. Gustavo Sandino, a priest of the Diocese of Jinotega, Nicaragua, was arrested following Mass on New Year's Eve. At least 14 priests, two seminarians and a Bishop have been arrested in recent days in Nicaragua. Cardinal Brenes has expressed his closeness to the priests' families and communities.

By Vatican News

Fr. Gustavo Sandino, the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows, was arrested on 31 December following Sunday Mass he celebrated at Santa María de Pastasma in the Diocese of Jinotega, Nicaragua. Local sources and exiled lawyer Martha Patricia Molina confirmed the incident to the local media outlet 100% Noticias.

In Managua, Fr. Fernando Téllez Báez, pastor of Our Lady of the Americas, was taken in the early hours a day earlier, and Fr. Jader Hernández, pastor of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd, the evening of 30 December.

Wave of arrests continues

At least 14 priests have been arrested in recent days, as well as two seminarians, Alester Saenz and Tony Palacio, and the Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega of Siuna.

He was arrested after offering prayers for Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos of Matagalpa and the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison without due process.

Cardinal Brenes' closeness

During Mass in the Cathedral on New Year's Eve, the Cardinal Archbishop of Managua, Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano, expressed his closeness "to the families and communities who are without their priests at this time," calling on everyone to remain "strongly" united in prayer.

"Ecclesial unity is our strength," he said, and "with Mary, our Mother, at the foot of the cross, may the Lord comfort us and show us his mercy."

Meanwhile, at a press conference, Martha Patricia Molina said that she had received word yesterday that scheduled Masses in some churches were not celebrated and the faithful were asked to go home. It is not known at this time whether the priests in these parishes were arrested.

Reactions from UN

So far, neither the government nor the police have confirmed or denied the detention of these clergymen.

Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that Nicaragua is moving "increasingly" away from the rule of law and "fundamental freedoms" by persecuting "political and indigenous leaders, members of the Catholic Church, activists, and journalists" with "repeated cases of arbitrary detention."

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