Terror cannot be the seed of peace, Bogota cardinal says after car bomb

Managua, Nicaragua, Feb 28, 2019 / 02:07 pm (CNA).- The bishops of Nicaragua have asked the faithful to pray for the dialogue begun Wednesday between the government of President Daniel Ortega and the opposition Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy.

In a message posted on social media, Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solorzano of Managua asked the faithful to pray “so that we can make a sincere effort to authentically work for the common good, declining all selfish  and sectarian interests, in the search for new horizons for Nicaragua.”

These horizons, he indicated, must be founded “on respect for human rights, promoting a culture of dialogue and understanding. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.”

On Facebook, the Nicaraguan bishops’ conference joined this intention of Cardinal Brenes to the “ ‘Let us Pray Together’ campaign.’” In addition, they asked Mary Immaculate to intercede for the country.

On Twitter, Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega of Managua stated Feb. 27 his “prayers for Nicaragua at the start of negotiations today.”

“Let personal and ideological interests be renounced and economics never be put before human rights. Let everything be transparent, with all political prisoners released and with public freedoms restored,” he added.

Attending the start of the talks as witnesses were Cardinal Brenes and the Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua, Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag.

However, the newspaper La Prensa de Nicaragua reported that the government vetoed the participation of Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa at the talks.  The opposition is demanding that the prelate be present.

The renewal of talks is taking place after almost eight months since the first attempt at dialogue. However, in order for the Feb. 27 meeting to take place, the opposition demanded that the regime release the political prisoners and demonstrators arrested during the protests that began in April 2018.

According to the opposition those in detention number more than 700. However, fewer than 150 were released and moved to house arrest Feb. 27. The government has not said if in the coming days more people would be released from prison.

Besides the release of the demonstrators, the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy also asked for
“the restoration of freedoms, rights, and guarantees established by the Political Constitution” and
“electoral reforms that guarantee fair, free, and transparent elections.”

On social media they stated that “in this first meeting we are defining the road map to ensure a transparent, effective and specific process.”

Nicaragua’s crisis began after Ortega announced social security and pension reforms. The changes were soon abandoned in the face of widespread, vocal opposition, but protests only intensified after more than 40 protestors were killed by security forces initially.

Anti-government protestors have been attacked by “combined forces” made up of regular police, riot police, paramilitaries, and pro-government vigilantes.

The Nicaraguan government has suggested that protestors are killing their own supporters so as to destabilize Ortega’s administration.

The Church in Nicaragua was quick to acknowledge the protestors’ complaints.

The pension reforms which triggered the unrest were modest, but protests quickly turned to Ortega’s authoritarian bent.

Ortega has been president of Nicaragua since 2007, and oversaw the abolition of presidential term limits in 2014.

The Church has suggested that elections, which are not scheduled until 2021, be held in 2019, but Ortega has ruled this out.

Ortega was a leader in the Sandinista National Liberation Front, which had ousted the Somoza dictatorship in 1979 and fought US-backed right-wing counterrevolutionaries during the 1980s. Ortega was also leader of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990.

 

 

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

[…]

ACI Prensa Staff, Jun 4, 2024 / 16:22 pm (CNA).

The bishops of Mexico congratulated Claudia Sheinbaum, president-elect of the country, “for her victory at the polls” in the June 2 election.

As of the late afternoon of June 3, the preliminary results tallied by the National Electoral Institute showed Sheinbaum — candidate of the leftist alliance Let’s Keep Making History — with 59.17% of the votes. Her closest competitor, Xóchitl Gálvez — representing the Strength and Heart  coalition — had 27.84%, while Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the Citizen Movement party had 10.45% of the votes. When the final count is completed, the institute will officially certify the winner.

In a statement posted on X yesterday by the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, the prelates prayed for Sheinbaum so that “with the responsibility and wisdom that the position demands, and always seeking the common good, she may lead Mexico toward better horizons where the republic is strengthened, the rule of law is fully established, democracy allows political transition without violence, progress and justice in the entire nation are achieved more effectively, and, above all, that we may begin a period of social reconciliation in the entire country.”

Besides voting for president, Mexicans elected new federal representatives and senators as well as the governors of nine states, state legislators, and presidents of municipalities.

The bishops also congratulated the Mexican people for “exercising their civil and political rights to strengthen democracy,” noting that this was achieved “despite the obstacles and problems that arose during the electoral process, especially due to criminal violence and some authorities interfering with the law.”

The election campaign was not without violence as 37 local candidates were assassinated. In addition, the National Electoral Institute reported 5,089 incidents throughout the country on election day, most of them minor, such as people trying to vote without a voter registration document. However, 29 polling stations had to be closed due to robberies, gun violence, and ballots being burned, among other factors.

“As pastors,” the bishops wrote, “it fills us with hope to see how citizens embrace the values ​​of the common good. May this spirit continue to encourage and inspire us in building a brighter future for our beloved homeland.”

After reminding all the winners of the 2024 elections that “when they take office, they will do so for everyone,” the prelates urged that “the common good be the star that guides everyone who was elected by popular vote” as they govern their districts.

Finally, they entrusted the nation to the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe and prayed that she would grant the people “the wisdom, serenity, and strength to accept the results of this civic celebration and to work together, government and society, in the building of a Mexico where we all recognize each other as brothers, beloved children of the same Father, and together let us forge the promising destiny of our great nation.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

[…]

ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 27, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Quito and the communications office of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress Quito 2024 reported that on March 25, Monday of Holy Week, Ecuador renewed its historic consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, first carried out 150 years ago.

Archbishop Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus of Quito offered the solemn Mass in the Basilica of the National Vow in the Ecuadorian capital, where the original painting showing the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is kept.

The ceremony, concelebrated by various bishops and priests, was also attended by civil and ecclesial authorities.

According an article posted on the archdiocesan website, Espinoza explained that the renewal is “a gift that makes us raise our hearts grateful to the Lord of life.”

“Today let us renew our trust in the Lord. We know that the final victory does not belong to those who kill, nor will our lives be safe by allying ourselves with the powerful of this world. Given what we are experiencing today, let us not despair,” Espinoza said.

In his homily, the archbishop condemned the violence, corruption, and drug trafficking that has plagued the country. Given the current situation, the archbishop emphasized, it is necessary “to renew our consecration, to say once and for all: Everything is yours; save Ecuador!”

The historic consecration

“The history of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began in the 16th century, and it did not take long to reach Ecuador,” explained the communications office of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress Quito 2024 (IEC 2024).

This eventually led to the historic consecration of Ecuador on March 25, 1874, carried out by order of the country’s president at the time, Gabriel García Moreno, with the support of the Vatican along with that of the then-archbishop of Quito, José Ignacio Checa y Barba.

Ecuador thus became the first country consecrated to the Sacred Heart. In 1884, it also became the first country where a national Eucharistic congress was held, according to the IEC 2024 article.

The International Eucharistic Congress that will be held Sept. 8–15 in Quito has as its theme “Fraternity to Heal the World.”

It is possible, although it has yet to be confirmed, that Pope Francis will attend the closing Mass.

Registration for the International Eucharistic Congress, both for the symposium to be held from Sept. 4–7 and for the congress itself from Sept. 8–15, opened on Jan. 31 on the event’s website. 

Prayer to renew the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Archdiocese of Quito published the prayer promulgated by the Ecuadorian Bishops’ Conference that was used for renewing the country’s consecration to the Sacred Heart:

Lord Jesus,

with a grateful spirit,

we come to renew our consecration to your Sacred Heart.

We are yours, and we want to walk with you.

Give us a meek and humble heart to be obedient to the will of the Father;

worshippers in spirit and in truth,

and joyful missionaries of your kingdom.

Heart of Jesus that unites us in the holy home of Nazareth,

With the same sentiment as Mary and Joseph, protect our Ecuadorian families,

Grant them a wise heart

to hear your words of life,

a heart grateful for daily bread,

a generous heart with those most in need,

and a merciful heart toward our brothers.

Heart of Jesus,

beacon of light and truth,

make us strong in love and hope,

to grow in respect for life, to be wise custodians of the common home and to live an authentic fraternity.

May it heal the wounds of the world

and drive away every shadow of division from our country.

Heart of Jesus

pierced with love on the cross,

from whose wounded side

the water of life and the blood of love sprang forth,

grant us wisdom and strength,

to break down every wall of selfishness and exclusion,

all forms of violence and injustice,

and all acts of corruption and impunity.

Heart of Jesus,

May your peace reign among us again. Teach us to listen, like Mary,

to the cry of the poor,

to commit ourselves to them.

God of loves, Holy Eucharist,

look at the people of your heart.

Save Ecuador!

Amen.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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