Archdiocese of Managua: “The Right to Live Freely has been Lost”

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Managua questioned the application of economic and tax policies that the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo implemented during the last year. The religious institution also expressed concern about unemployment and the quality of life of Nicaraguans in aspects of education and health, in a statement published on Monday.

“The implementation of economic and tax policies (increasing the cost of electricity, floating currency), with which it intended to evade the current crisis, are not an adequate response to the economic recession that we are going through,” states the letter released through social networks.

The Commission pointed out that high unemployment rates in Nicaragua, coupled with the lack of elemental education at the national level and the poor quality of the public health services, is a very important issue that must be addressed by the Ortega government authorities.

“It is also necessary to act with a social conscience that allows the population to receive the benefits it deserves,” said the Archdiocese of Managua in its message. It also mentioned that the social, political and economic crisis Nicaragua has been through since April 2018, aggravated the situation of an impoverished society and pushing it to misery where the “right to live with dignity” has been lost.

No way to “build a nation”

Two months ago the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua recommended continuing the civic struggle in Nicaragua, but always in a peaceful way to “break the cycle of violence.” “There are many nations that have triumphed with a peaceful revolution, with the strength of values, faith, hope and charity, in a word, with the power of God,” the Catholic bishops recommended.

In this new message of the Archdiocese, in addition to questioning the Government’s policies, it maintained that a nation can’t be built through fear and pressures, but needs an environment of trust, justice and freedom of expression, allowing the constructive criticism from broad sectors of society.

It also advocated for the independence of State powers to avoid the concentration of power, and a political culture that takes into account the well-being of all, that wants to serve and does not become the “modus vivendi” for personal well-being or of a group.

The message of the Justice and Peace Commission was disseminated at the conclusion of the extraordinary missionary month convened by Pope Francis. “As a Church we want to bring a word of solace and strength to our brothers and sisters in the difficult situation our country continues to live, subjected to violence, injustices and the looting of its assets,” it insisted.