The Nicaraguan government under President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo is preventing priests from entering hospitals to administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick, according to a report.
Lawyer Martha Patricia Molina, who authored the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?” shared her findings in an interview with EWTN News, revealing that approximately 10 priests from different dioceses have reported being barred from providing the sacrament to those in need.
While some priests with ties to the government are still allowed to enter hospitals, Molina explained that these exceptions are rare and do not reflect a widespread policy.
“Before this year, the Sandinista government allowed priests to visit healthcare facilities,” Molina stated. “However, security measures have been significantly tightened without explanation. The situation worsens when priests attempt to enter in clerical attire, leading many to resort to wearing civilian clothes in order to avoid detection.”
The lawyer noted that the restrictions are particularly severe in smaller towns, where local authorities, doctors, and hospital staff are more likely to recognize priests and prevent them from entering.
In the capital, Managua, clergy members have a slightly better chance of gaining access, but they too must disguise themselves as laypeople to perform the sacrament for those at the brink of death.
The crackdown on religious freedoms also extends beyond hospitals. On November 10, during a Sunday Mass, Bishop Carlos Enrique Herrera of Jinotega, also president of the Nicaraguan Bishops’ Conference, publicly denounced the actions of the pro-Ortega mayor of Jinotega, Leonidas Centeno. Centeno had caused a disturbance during the Eucharistic celebration by blasting loud music outside the cathedral.
Bishop Herrera called the mayor’s actions “a sacrilege,” urging the congregation to pray for forgiveness for both themselves and the authorities who disrespected the sacred service. “They know the time of the Mass, and yet they continue to disturb it. This is sacrilege, and we will not remain silent,” he said. The Mass was broadcast live on the diocesan Facebook page.
