The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo ordered the exile of monsignor Carlos Herrera, president of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN) and bishop of the Diocese of Jinotega, after he described the pro-Ortega mayor of that locality, Leonidas Centeno, as “sacrilegious” for disrespecting a Mass.
The 75-year-old bishop saw further repercussions on Wednesday, November 13, as parishioners reported the closure of the Diocese of Jinotega’s Facebook page. Lawyer and author of the report Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church? Martha Patricia Molina condemned the kidnapping of bishop Herrera and demanded information about his whereabouts.
Two ecclesiastical sources, speaking under strict anonymity, confirmed to LA PRENSA that bishop Carlos Herrera was kidnapped after attending a meeting with the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN) in Managua and was subsequently exiled to Guatemala.
“The bishop was expelled from Nicaragua to Guatemala. He was attending a meeting in Managua with the bishops, not with the clergy of his diocese as has been reported,” one source confirmed.
The outlet Mosaico reported that the bishop is currently residing in a house belonging to the Order of Friars Minor in Guatemala.
Bishops Baez, Alvarez, Mora and Herrera are now in Exile
With the exile of Bishop Carlos Herrera, the Ortega regime has expelled three bishops from Nicaragua as part of its persecution and harassment of the Catholic Church.
Before him, Monsignor Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, Bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, and Monsignor Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega, from the Diocese of Siuna, were exiled on January 13, 2024, after being released from prison.
It is also worth noting that in 2019, monsignor Silvio José Báez, auxiliary bishop of Managua, was forced into exile after receiving death threats.
The exile of Monsignor Herrera leaves the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN) with only five bishops: cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, archbishop of Managua; monsignor Jorge Solórzano of the Diocese of Granada; Francisco José Tijerino Dávila of Bluefields; Sócrates René Sándigo of the Diocese of León; and Marcial Humberto Guzmán Saballos of the Diocese of Juigalpa.
Bishop Herrera was consecrated and assumed his role as bishop of Jinotega on June 24, 2005.
“Go and tell them because they know the time of the Mass”
Monsignor Herrera made this statement during Mass on Sunday, November 10, after municipal authorities in Jinotega played loud music outside the church, disrupting the Sunday celebration.
“Let us ask the Lord for forgiveness for our faults and also for those who do not respect the worship,” said the bishop as he began the Catholic rite. “This is a sacrilege being committed by the mayor and all the municipal authorities, and go tell them because they know the time of the Mass.”
He also admonished the congregation, accusing them of supporting such political events, noting, “After Mass, we will see you there.” The bishop concluded by saying, “Let us ask forgiveness for all of us,” before reciting the Confiteor (“I confess”).