Nicaraguan dictatorship bans priests from anointing the sick in hospitals
Summary
The Nicaraguan government, under President Ortega, has banned priests from administering the anointing of the sick in public hospitals, marking a new chapter in the regime's persecution of Catholics. Lawyers and exiled Nicaraguan activists, have been speaking out against these measures, documenting the growing repression. Priests are reportedly under surveillance, with some facing threats and forced exile, including one priest who fled after receiving death threats. Over 250 persecuted Catholics, including bishops and seminarians, now live in exile, some finding refuge in Rome. The NGO "Nicaragua Never Again" reports that the regime has shut down over 1,200 religious entities, calling it the worst repression of the Catholic Church in the country’s history.
Relevance
Catholics and the church are facing heavy persecution in Nicaragua. This is an example of how it has intersected with healthcare.