SW News: The Diocese of Matagalpa in Nicaragua appealed to its faithful to pray the rosary daily and offer it for the release of Bishop Rolando Jose Álvarez, who was kidnapped by the police of the Sandinista government led by Daniel Ortega on August 19. In the appeal to the faithful, the diocese told them to entrust the abducted prelate to the motherly protection of the Virgin Mary.

The Diocese urged Catholics to pray for the bishop in one of its Facebook posts published on Tuesday, September 13, the day commemorated as “the penultimate appearance of Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherds in Portugal” in 1917.

Along with Bishop Alvarez, who also serves as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Esteli, the Matagalpa diocese also sought prayers for other priests and laymen who were also arrested in the harsh persecution methods of the dictator Ortega.

The rivalry between the Catholic Church and Ortega government intensified in 2018 when the regime began to target those involved in anti-Ortega protests, where the church acted as a mediator between the government and protesters. The government accused many bishops and priests of conspiracy when they stood for justice for the 360 people who died in a series of agitations, according to the report of various human rights organizations.

In the latest round of persecution, Ortega’s government ordered the shutdown of seven Catholic radio stations in an attempt to silence the voice of the Church. Five of the stations were in the Diocese of Matagalpa. Following the closure of the stations, the administration targeted Bishop Alvarez and placed him under house arrest in his curia building.

The 55-year-old-prelate is one of the most vocal critics of the corruption and rights violations of the government. Bishop Alvarez has also been charged with conspiracy and incitement of violence.

Another incident targeting the Church was the expulsion of 18 nuns belonging to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity congregation. They were forced to cross the border and seek refuge in Costa Rica after their congregation was denied legal status. The authorities also closed down their NGOs in the country.