Religious from Cuba show solidarity with Missionaries of Charity expelled from Nicaragua

The Conference of Religious Men and Women in Cuba expressed its indignation “at the expulsion from Nicaragua of the Missionaries of Charity nuns,” ordered by the Daniel Ortega regime and approved on Wednesday by the National Assembly.

In a post published yesterday Friday on their Facebook pagethe religious organization expressed its “indignation at the expulsion from Nicaragua of the religious Missionaries of Charity, who with their unconditional dedication watch over and care for the poorest and most vulnerable.”

“We trust in the Risen Christ that truth, love and justice will triumph,” added the organization, which brings together religious Cubans and other nationalities.

On Wednesday, June 29, the National Assembly approved the dissolution of 101 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Missionaries of Charity Association.

The closure request was presented on June 22 by legislator Filiberto Rodríguez, of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), President Daniel Ortega’s party and which has a large majority in Parliament.

The measure was approved without debate by the 75 Sandinista legislators, along with their allies. Of the other 16 members of the Assembly, one was absent and the rest abstained from voting.

In the city of Granada, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta administered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home, in which they took in abandoned adolescents or victims of abuse. In the capital, Managua, the nuns ran a nursing home.

In addition, they developed a project in the country to reinforce schooling for minors at risk and managed a nursery for poor children, mostly children of single mothers and street vendors.

Among other things, the Sandinista regime accuses the missionaries of not being accredited to function as a nursery and nursing home, and of not having permission to carry out learning reinforcement.

Also, according to the Government, the balances of income from donations did not coincide with the reports submitted.

Another reason for the regime is that the new law that regulates NGOs, and which has been in force for two months, indicates that a maximum of 25% of the members of the boards of directors may be foreigners.

In the case of the Missionaries of Charity Association, the entire Board of Directors are citizens of other nationalities.

The EFE agency reported that the nuns have begun to leave the country after being notified by the Sandinista regime, which has ruled the country since January 2007.

Among the 101 organizations that must close are the Catholic Foundation for Human Development Assistance for Nicaraguans, the Spirituality Foundation for Children of Nicaragua, the Mi Infancia Maternal Foundation and the Diriomito Children’s Care House Association.

With the regulation approved on Wednesday, there are 758 NGOs declared illegal in Nicaragua at the request of the Ortega government.

Religious from Cuba show solidarity with Missionaries of Charity expelled from Nicaragua