AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Bishops' Conference asks government to clarify facts regarding the origin of a document that seeks to discredit the Church by portraying Bishops as corrupt and ambitious

Managua (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday, the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference (CEN) asked the government, led by Daniel Ortega, to “clarify facts regarding the origin” of the document “The Relationship between the Church and the Frente Sandinista,” which was sent out last Thursday from an e-mail account of the Office of the President, along with a letter from First Lady Rosario Murillo, which contained an interview signed by the Social Affairs Coordinator Orlando Núñez Soto, accusing Nicaraguan Bishops of being corrupt and ambitious.
The Bishops referred to the document as “an attempt at writing a novel,” with the goal of “discrediting the Church which, in her Bishops and priests, has always made an effort to be faithful to her prophetic role and closeness to the poorest and humblest.”
The statement, which was read in a press conference held by the Secretary of the Bishops' Conference, Bishop Rene Sandigo of Juigalpa, along with Archbishop Leopoldo Jose Brenes Solorzano of Managua, President of the Bishops' Conference, was addressed to the entire Catholic population of Nicaragua and begins with a quote from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans that says: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37).
In the text, the Bishops affirm that “the previously mentioned document should be considered as what in fact it is: the product of a creative mind without any foundations in reality, far from any truth.” Thus, they explain that while they are open to forgiveness, they wish to clarify the origin of the document.
“We are grateful for the confidence that now, more than ever, you Catholics have shown in your Pastors, and we hope that the unity that comes from the Holy Spirit will be our strength,” the Bishops continued. Lastly, they invite all the faithful that in this month of May, “month of Mary, Our Mother, we may pray to the Holy Spirit asking Him for the Lord's protection and mercy.”
The President and Secretary General of the CEN affirm that the Bishops do not wish to “conjecture on the letter until they have an official copy from the Executive Branch of the Government, as this document also involves the nation's leaders.” Archbishop Brenes asked that the Government in Managua “clarify facts regarding the origin of the document, for the tranquility of all Nicaraguans.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/5/2009)