Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Churches in Nicaragua Facing Crackdown This Easter
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MANAGUA (Worthy News) – Christians across autocratically-ruled Nicaragua “are celebrating Holy Week” leading up to Easter under the watchful eye of police and paramilitary forces, Christians told Worthy News on Good Friday.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the heightened tensions follow the decision of the Sandinista government led by Daniel Ortega and Rosaria Murillo to ban many public celebrations, including processions that are common among Latin American churches.
“In Nicaragua, the public religious celebrations have been outlawed for the past two years. Since then, harassment against Christians throughout the country has intensified, resulting in hundreds of religious leaders being either imprisoned or exiled,” said Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), an advocacy group supporting Christians in the region.
Instead of traditionally church-run festivities, some municipalities have organized government-operated events, Worthy News learned.
One exiled Nicaraguan political leader, Felix Maradiaga, believes that “the model Sandinistas want to implement is very similar to that of [communist-run] China.”
Like in China, he noted government-operated churches “promoting government propaganda under the guise of religious instruction.”
POLICE PERMISSION
In February, governing officials reportedly stated that they may stop recognizing episcopal appointments from the Vatican and instead begin appointing their own church leaders.
Christians told Worthy News that some Christian leaders have been required to report to the police every week for their sermons to be approved.
“Additionally, churches throughout the country are under surveillance from plainclothes officers as well as uniformed officials. It has been reported that around 14,000 governing agents were deployed to monitor churches this week in order to prevent Easter celebrations from taking place,” VOMC said.
One church member stated that although she “enjoys the Holy Week religious activities,” she is considering “not attending these services for fear of being “marked” by the government.”
VOMC told Worthy News that it had urged its supporters to “Pray that the message of Jesus’ death and glorious resurrection would be widely proclaimed throughout Nicaragua, despite the restrictions being imposed on the public celebrations of Easter.”
It also asked for prayers for a change of heart of political leaders and “for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters” this Easter season in Nicaragua.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a renewed foreign surveillance authority, advancing a key national security measure while exposing deep divisions within Republican ranks. The legislation, known as the Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act, passed in a bipartisan 235-191 vote and now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has developed plans for a “short and powerful” wave of military strikes against Iran, as tensions continue to escalate and nuclear negotiations remain deadlocked, according to reports cited by Axios.
Britain’s King Charles III has told the U.S. Congress that despite an age of uncertainty and conflict in Europe and the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States remain united in defending democracy.
South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for stock manipulation and bribery, with her legal team saying she will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
Tensions along Israel’s northern border intensified Wednesday as Israeli forces and Hezbollah exchanged fire, underscoring the fragility of a supposed ceasefire. Israeli military leadership made clear that, on the ground, active combat operations are still underway.
Two Jewish men were seriously wounded in a knife attack in north London, in what authorities are calling a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community. The assault took place in Golders Green, a neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, intensifying concerns over a growing wave of antisemitic violence across Britain.
Iran’s economy is rapidly deteriorating under the strain of war, with more than one million people out of work and inflation soaring to crippling levels. According to The Wall Street Journal, another million jobs have been indirectly affected, as businesses shut down and supply chains collapse across the country.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com