The Nicaraguan dictatorship, led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, has banned street processions for the third consecutive year, further restricting the Catholic Church’s freedom in the country. This move is part of a broader crackdown on dissent and religious activities, with the regime portraying the Church as an enemy. The government has deployed 14,000 police officers to prevent processions during Holy Week.
Catholics in Nicaragua are feeling the impact, with many parishioners expressing disappointment and frustration. “Before, we used to go out into the streets and tour the communities, but now we don’t. We have to do it inside the church, and that diminishes popular religiosity a bit,” said Marcos, a parishioner in Managua.
In recent years, with over 1,000 attacks reported since 2018, according to Martha Patricia Molina, a Nicaraguan researcher and lawyer in exile. The US government has condemned the Nicaraguan government’s actions, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio singling out the effort to eliminate the Catholic Church.
Despite the restrictions, Catholics in Nicaragua are attending parishes in large numbers, showing their faith and solidarity. Nicaraguan journalist Israel Espinoza, exiled in Spain, praised the faith of Nicaraguan Christians, saying it’s “worthy of admiration and solidarity”.