Nicaragua and Cuba 1,400 lashes to religious freedom

The dictatorships of Cuba and Nicaragua are leading the attacks on religious freedom in the Americas. Both regimes total more than 1,400 attacks on faith and parishioners. Its goal is to strangle the prophetic voice of the church, but for some reason the effect has been otherwise. The courage of the religious has aroused the massive admiration of believers and agnostics.

Since 2018, Nicaragua has accumulated 410 attacks on religious freedom. The desecration of temples, the murder of a 15-year-old altar boy and the arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, are part of the endless string of attacks.

Cuba, the mother of dictatorships, registered 1,030 attacks on religious freedom in 2022. The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights indicates that espionage, harassment, summons and forced exile have not managed to break faith.

Why the attack on the church?

The church has a power that dictatorships do not understand or control. The impoverishment and abuses caused by tyrants are denounced by the church with a voice that crosses borders and mocks censorship. Autocrats see it as a powerful and dangerous threat.

Father Alberto Reyes, pastor of the Archdiocese of Camagüey, said at the beginning of this year that “we cannot leave everything to God, because God worked as a team. It’s not up to us to do everything

possible for living in the truth, for defending justice”. Words like these feed the faith and hope of a people who have suffered a long-standing 64-year dictatorship.

Shepherds with the smell of sheep

In the 2018 protests, the Nicaraguan church stood by the people. His courage was impressive and essential, preventing Ortega from murdering a greater number of students, women, and children.

The Cuban church rose like Lazarus. In the July 2021 demonstrations, the priests stood with the oppressed who were peacefully demanding Patria y Vida. This closeness and empathy with the people infuriated the tyrants accustomed to receiving praise and adoration.

Professionals of religious persecution

According to the organization Prisoners Defenders, in Cuba the Office of Religious Affairs (OAAR) supervises all spiritual activities with an iron fist. The eyes and ears of the dictatorship are the processions, funerals, donations, imports, works, reforms, trips, etc.

In Nicaragua, the National Police prohibited all kinds of religious processions. The order came from above. That is, from the wife of Daniel Ortega. Since 2022, without law or decree, all public demonstrations by the church are considered illegal because they disturb the “peace and security” of the dictatorship.

Blacklisted in the United States

In 2022, Nicaragua and Cuba were added to the list of countries that violate the religious freedom of their citizens. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that religious freedom violations “sow division, undermine economic security, and threaten political stability and peace. The United States will not stand idly by in the face of these abuses.”

On the other hand, Cuba and Nicaragua are part of the shameful world ranking of Countries where following Christ can cost your life. The two regimes are pointed out for carrying out systematic attacks against religious freedom, mainly against the Catholic Church.

Chinese style

China does not respect religious freedom and its model is emulated by the 2 tropical dictatorships. The religious are watched, beaten, imprisoned and re-educated. Until the beginning of the year 2000, the arrest of 30 bishops and priests was counted. Some have been banned for life from exercising their ministry.

The complicit silence

Religious persecution grows under the shadow of complicit silence. The last CELAC Summit issued a declaration of 111 points, 28 pages and 33 signatory countries. Not a single letter condemned religious persecution.

Faith is revitalized in the midst of repression. The attacks on religion have had a boomerang effect. The courage of priests and

bishops has generated admiration for the church. An unexpected and unstoppable revival, which cries out for the audible solidarity of more democratic countries and especially the voice of the Vatican.

Monsignor Silvio Báez said it this way: “Blessed is the Church persecuted for following Jesus, because hers is the Kingdom of God!”

*The author is a journalist, was a member of the Norwegian Peace Corps and former Nicaraguan ambassador to the OAS.

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