AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Cardinal Brenes: "The episcopate does not exist to please the aspirations of personalities, but to guide the flock"

Monday, 2 December 2019 social situation   politics   area crisis   bishops  

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Managua (Agenzia Fides) - "We must not satisfy the desires of personalities" declared Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua, after the midday mass celebrated in the cathedral, thus responding to the words pronounced by President Daniel Ortega at the end of the XXXVII plenary meeting of the permanent Conference of political parties in Latin America and the Caribbean (Copppal) which took place in Managua on 28 and 29 November.
In his speech, Ortega superficially described the recent history of Nicaragua's social and political life and stated that "the clergy is fully engaged in the conspiracy, because it comes from 'Somocism'. When Anastasio Somoza García died, he was buried with the "Honor of a Prince of the Church. How can we believe in them? I believe in Christ. I cannot believe in them because they have Somocist roots".
Cardinal Brenes replied to these words: "The facts tell the truth and many of the new bishops who are there today do not even know Somoza. Today we have a very serious, very responsible and totally apolitical episcopate, we maintain our independence", said Brenes according to the note sent to Fides. Therefore, to conclude, he reiterated: "The episcopate does not exist to please the aspirations of personalities, but to guide the flock and preach the Gospel".
The Nicaraguan population participated in numerous celebrations for the opening of Advent and the beginning of the Octave of the Immaculate Conception. Religious festivals are a profound part of the social life of a suffering people, which is why more and more family members of political prisoners rely on the Catholic Church for the release of prisoners, so that they can return home for Christmas. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 2/12/2019)


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