Nicaragua expels lead bishop in further targeting of Catholic Church

Nicaragua has expelled Bishop Carlos Herrera, the head of the country’s Episcopal conference, in what appears to be a further step in its campaign against the Catholic Church, according to a report, which says the 75-year-old bishop was forced into exile in Guatemala.

The expulsion was sudden and has left the local Catholic community in shock, Reuters quoted Martha Molina, a lawyer with close ties to the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, as saying. She described Herrera as having been the target of “persecution by the dictatorship” and cited continuous harassment by leading security and administrative officials.

Molina added that Herrera’s recent criticism of the government, specifically pointing out disturbances during his religious services by individuals linked to local authorities, prompted his expulsion. Herrera’s masses in Jinotega were reportedly disrupted by loudspeakers set up outside by individuals tied to the mayor’s office.

Continued below.