Photo: Alamy
Nicaragua’s relationship with socialism and communism in the modern era has been historically complicated. The U.S. Department of State lists the country as a Level 3 travel advisory—or, in simple terms, recommends reconsidering travel to the nation.
Co-Presidents, husband and wife Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, claim Christianity under Roman Catholic identity. However, this has not stopped the current government from targeting Christians, notably Catholics in the country, resulting in the exile of hundreds of high-ranking clergy.
Breitbart highlighted the worsening situation, with initial reporting from the Associated Press, “Many pastors still in Nicaragua are under near-constant surveillance, obliged to inform the police if they want to visit someone who’s ill and to submit drafts of their sermons for approval, according to those in exile and human rights activists. With their bank accounts often frozen or stolen, some face shortages of food and medicine. One Catholic priest said his fellow clergy are trying to serve their flock while feeling constrained by constant threat.”
For any student of history, such restrictions and governmental actions are alarming and resemble the practices of the Soviet Union. Ortega, known as a favorable voice of Marxism, is leading a government that is practicing the very principles of the Communist Manifesto—opposing religious voices and practices if they are seen as a threat to state control. Religious freedom has always stood at odds with socialism and communism.
Though notable foreign relations experts have a hard time classifying this duo of husband and wife as either communist, socialist, or strictly authoritarian, their practices and hostility to biblical Christianity resemble that of the North Korean family dynasty.
As Christians—especially those of the orthodox faiths—continue to practice and prepare for the upcoming Easter calendar, there is no welcome celebration in Nicaragua. For the second consecutive year, Holy Week has been flat-out banned or restricted.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently commented:
“In the case of Nicaragua, it’s turned into a family dynasty with a co-presidency where they’ve basically tried to eliminate the Catholic Church and the religious community, and anyone who tries to take power from that regime is punished…And today we must acknowledge that Nicaragua is not a democracy. It doesn’t work as one.”
Murillo, like her husband, claims Catholicism—but under an umbrella of protection. In reality, both leaders are simply trying to suppress any powerful figure in the nation who seeks religious freedom. Christianity historically produces a freedom mentality—and that is an obvious threat to such oppressive rulers. Sadly, Nicaragua is once again following in the footsteps of Venezuela and Cuba.
While most reports highlight the persecution of Catholics over Protestants, this is primarily because the number of Catholics in Nicaragua vastly outnumbers Protestants. Nevertheless, Protestants should remain vigilant. History tells us that regimes hostile to one branch of Christianity rarely stop there.
As the saying goes, history repeats itself—and the Nicaraguan government is proving determined to erase, silence and suppress the Christian voice in their country.