According to its Preamble, the Constitution of Nicaragua emanates from the Nicaraguan people in the name, among others, of “those Christians who inspired by their belief in God [. . .] joined and committed themselves to the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed”.
Under Article 4, the state is responsible for “promoting the human development of each and every Nicaraguan, inspired by Christian values”.
In its foreign policy, Nicaragua rejects “all forms of political, military, economic, cultural, or religious aggression”; therefore, interfering in the internal affairs of other states is forbidden and proscribed (Article 5).
The nation’s principles include recognition of indigenous peoples and Nicaraguans of African descent as well as respect for human dignity and Christian values.
The state has no official religion (Article 14). Under Article 27, everyone is equal before the law, and the state does not discriminate, among other things, on religious grounds.
Article 29 stipulates that, “Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience and thought and to profess or not profess a religion. No one shall be the object of coercive measures which diminish these rights or be compelled to declare his/her creed, ideology or beliefs.”
Among various social groups, religious men and women have, according to Article 49, the right to establish organisations with “the goal of realizing their aspirations”.
According to Article 69, “All persons, either individually or in a group, have the right to manifest their religious beliefs in public or private, through worship, practices and teachings.”
Article 124 stipulates that “Education in Nicaragua is secular”; nevertheless, the state “recognizes the right of private education centers with a religious orientation to teach religion as an extracurricular subject.”
Members of the clergy cannot run for president, vice-president or parliament unless they resign their ministry at least twelve months before the election (Article 134).
Minority communities on the Caribbean coast are guaranteed a high level of autonomy to develop in accordance with their own historical and cultural traditions. Article 180 guarantees them the right to preserve, “their cultures and languages, religions and customs.”
Nicaragua plummeted into a political and economic crisis in April 2018, when pro-government “shock troops” crushed a small demonstration against reforms to Nicaragua's pension system. Since that time hundreds of people have been killed, thousands injured and more than 100,000 people have fled reported human rights abuses as the protests have grown calling for democratic reforms, and government attempts to quell them have increased.
Churches, members of the clergy, nuns and ordinary believers too came under attack during the period covered by this report predominantly while the country was mired in this profound political and economic upheaval.
The seriousness of the crisis moved the Catholic Church and other organisations to publicly express concern about the situation and criticise the government's repressive policy.
On 25th February 2019, the Archbishop of Managua, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, travelled to Rome to inform the Holy Father of the “socio-political crisis” in Nicaragua.
On 27th February, Cardinal Brenes participated as an observer on the first day of negotiations between the government of President Daniel Ortega and the opposition group, the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy. Not receiving any invitation for the next three meetings, however, in March the bishops announced their decision to not take further part in the negotiations. The Apostolic Nuncio Waldemar Stanislaw was present at all talks as a “witness”.
In July 2019, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed its concern over the ongoing crackdown and the serious restrictions on public liberties, not to mention the attacks on religious services by pro-government groups and anti-riot police.
In October 2020, the bishops expressed concern over government bills limiting freedom of expression. One such bill would require people receiving funds from abroad to register with the Ministry of the Interior and submit to financial audits, which could affect the charitable mission of the Church.
The European Parliament also passed a resolution condemning the laws on foreign agents, cybercrime and hate crimes, which, if approved, would cause more human rights violations and provide President Ortega’s government with new means of repression.
In the period under review, religious institutions and faithful have increasingly come under attack, targeted by hate crimes (attacks on religious properties and people identified as religious) and acts of intimidation against those expressing their faith or practising it by helping victims of violence.
In June 2018, an Evangelical pastor and his family burned to death at their home in Managua in an arson attack blamed on police officers. In January 2019, the government interfered with the Catholic procession for peace traditionally held on 1st January. This included threats posted on social media and the presence of riot police deployed along the procession’s route.
In April 2019, protesters took advantage of the traditional Holy Week processions to stage protests against President Ortega’s government a year after the start of socio-political unrest caused by the government’s reform of the social security system. When riot police tried to disperse the protesters, some sought refuge in the Managua Cathedral. The apostolic nuncio mediated “between the authorities and the opposition to allow the protesters to leave the cathedral safely.”
In November 2019, a group of people went on a hunger strike in a church to demand the release of political prisoners. The authorities surrounded the church and prevented the hunger strikers from receiving the basics, like water and medicines.
After another hunger strike started in the Managua Cathedral, police surrounded the building, allowing pro-government sympathisers to get inside where they attacked a priest and a nun who were protecting the protestors. The Church of Nicaragua condemned the desecration of the cathedral.
Several acts of vandalism and church desecrations were reported in the country. An NGO counted 22 attacks between December 2018 and July 2020, including an incident in April 2020 at the Nuestra Señora de la Merced parish in Managua; and, among others, two in July against the Nuestra Señor de Veracruz parish and the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro chapel. In July the Managua Cathedral was again the target of attack, this time of a terrorist act. An unidentified individual threw a bomb that started a fire inside the building.
In September 2020, the government began cancelling visas for foreign priests, even though they had been working in the country for several years. During this month the Cristo Rey parish was attacked whilst the Santo Domingo chapel was also desecrated.
With the onset of COVID-19, the government failed to heed the signs of the pandemic, for example public services continued to operate normally, enabling the virus to spread. The vice president encouraged religious services during Holy Week; by contrast, the Bishops’ Conference limited activities and took steps to prevent infections, cancelling for example a traditional Lenten pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Jesús del Rescate.
Against the backdrop of a profound socio-political crisis under the presidency of Daniel Ortega, an Evangelical pastor and his family were murdered, members of the clergy were attacked, harassed and persecuted, whilst foreign priests saw their visas cancelled.
In this explosive climate, the Catholic Church has tried to mediate between the government and the opposition, without success, and subsequently has been the target of attacks and reprisals for giving sanctuary in her buildings to protestors demanding the release of political prisoners.
The Church and international organisations have condemned the climate of fear and violence, warning that human rights, including religious freedom, are being violated. The status of this fundamental right has visibly deteriorated in Nicaragua, and the outlook for the future is bleak.
Nicaragua