Daniel Ortega’s regime accuses the Nicaraguan Catholic Church of being part of a money laundering network

( Spanish) — The Government of the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, accused this Saturday the Nicaraguan Catholic Church of being part of a money laundering network that allegedly involved people previously convicted of “Treason” and several dioceses of the country, without specific details were given, according to a press release published by the National Police.

“The result of the investigations confirmed the illegal theft of resources from bank accounts that had been ordered by Law to freeze, as well as other illegal activities that are still being investigated as part of a money laundering network that has been discovered in Dioceses of different Departments. “It was stated in the statement.

According to the Police, the Superintendency of Banks has requested the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua and the Archbishop of Managua, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, to present documents that “show the movements of the bank accounts of the Dioceses, in order to comply with at all times with the Laws of the Country”.

is trying to obtain more information on the case with the Government’s Communication and Citizenship Council, as well as a reaction from the Archdiocese of Managua and Brenes, who had not made a public statement on the case.

This Sunday, during a homily from the Managua Cathedral, and without referring directly to the government’s accusations, Brenes called on his parishioners, especially the young, to “not be afraid,” since “fear is promoted by devil”.

In its statement, the Nicaraguan National Police said that the investigations derive from cases previously tried for Treason against the Homeland, this in reference to the controversial Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-Determination for Peace. , which since its implementation has been used to imprison critics of the Ortega government, journalists and even opposition presidential candidates.

The announced investigations for money laundering represent the latest episode in a series of actions undertaken by the Ortega regime against the Catholic Church, which only so far this year has registered the closure of a university in the Archdiocese of Managua, arrests of priests, expulsion from the country of nuns and the cutting of diplomatic relations with the Vatican.