Nicaraguan foreign minister visits Vatican, seeks removal of ‘unfair’ bishops from dialogue
August 07, 2018
Nicaragua’s foreign minister visited the Vatican to seek its help in “restructuring” the national dialogue brokered by the nation’s bishops.
Denis Moncada said that only bishops who have demonstrated an “equitable” attitude toward the Ortega regime, and who are not seen as supporting the opposition, should be permitted to take part in the dialogue.
In April, President Daniel Ortega’s government asked the bishops to broker a national dialogue between the regime and its opponents, and the episcopal conference chose the bishops who served on the panel. The dialogue collapsed in June.
In July, following the desecration of churches by the regime’s paramilitary forces and physical attacks on bishops, the bishops sought the resumption of the suspended dialogue.
Responding to Moncada’s comments, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes of Managua said that the Vatican would not be swayed by outside interference. The prelate affirmed that the episcopal conference would choose which bishops serve on the dialogue panel and added that the government has still not responded to the bishops’ letter calling for the resumption of dialogue.
Separately, the Organization for American States called for the creation of a regional working group to seek peace in Nicaragua, but Moncada denounced the proposal as an “interventionist political maneuver.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Moncada, ministro degli Esteri del Nicaragua: «Siamo di fronte a un tentativo di rompere l’ordine costituzionale per far cadere un governo progressista» (L'AntiDiplomatico)
- Canciller Denis Moncada gestiona en el Vaticano sacar del Diálogo Nacional a obispos que están “a favor de la oposición” (La Prensa)
- Moncada plantea en el Vaticano que solo obispos ecuánimes estén en el diálogo (El Nuevo Diario)
- L’Osa propone una commissione per la pace in Nicaragua (L'Osservatore Romano)
- OAS Approves Creation of a Working Group to Search for Peaceful Solutions to the Situation in Nicaragua (Organization of American States)
- OAS human rights body counts 317 dead in Nicaragua unrest (AP)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
