Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Nicaragua have reiterated once again the need to respect the Constitution which prohibits the President from being re-elected, criticizing the judges of the Court who approved the re-election of President Daniel Ortega, even though this violates the Country's Constitution. Judges and leaders of the Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC) have apologised for their inaction in the face of judicial proceedings instituted by the governing party, the Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN).
Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega, Auxiliary Bishop of Managua, said the affront to the Constitution is one that most seriously damages the country. “We, as Pastors, have raised our voices denouncing this as sin,” said the Bishop. Now it is up to citizens to demand respect for the Constitution, because the Bishops can not behave like political leaders. “It is absolutely not our place to organise the people, nor organize marches or promote anything like that. We did what we had to do from the standpoint of faith,” the Bishop explained clearly.
Bishop Bernardo Hombach, Bishop emeritus of Granada, has said that it is not the re-election of President Daniel Ortega which should concern the people by the missing respect for that which is stated in the Constitution of the Republic. Even the Nicaraguan opposition has proposed to the Electoral Tribunal the participation of international observers for the presidential elections next November. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 31/01/2011)
