Nicaragua’s regime has banned the ordination of priests and deacons in four dioceses - Jinotega, Siuna, Matagalpa, and Estelí - where bishops remain in exile.
The measure is attributed to President Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo. The latter is referred to as “the witch” because of her esoteric and shamanic imagery, and rituals influenced by the New Age movement.
According to priests in exile, the ban is enforced through police surveillance. Outside bishops are blocked from entering dioceses to ordain clergy.
At least 32 priests from Matagalpa are in exile and the diocese operates with about 30% of its clergy. Estelí and Jinotega have lost up to half of their pastoral capacity.
Seminarians who have completed their training remain unable to be ordained.
Ordinations continue in dioceses where bishops remain in the country, including Managua, León, Granada, Juigalpa, and Bluefields.
Despite the restrictions, vocations to the priesthood continue, and some ordinations have reportedly taken place abroad. Two Nicaraguan seminarians were ordained as priests in the Diocese of Limón, Costa Rica, in a secret liturgy.
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