Ordinations of priests and deacons have been stopped in four Nicaraguan dioceses, worsening a shortage of clergy as the Sandinista government continues its actions against the Catholic Church, according to a March 18 report.
The halt affects the dioceses of Jinotega, Siuna, Matagalpa, and Estelí. Researcher Martha Patricia Molina, an exiled lawyer who monitors church persecution in Nicaragua, said no recent ordinations have taken place in these areas. The bishops leading these dioceses—Carlos Enrique Herrera of Jinotega, Isidoro Mora of Siuna, and Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa (who also serves as apostolic administrator for Estelí)—are all currently in exile.
Molina said that ongoing persecution has greatly reduced the number of priests serving in these regions. She estimated that only about 30% of priests remain in Matagalpa compared to 2018 levels when the government began cracking down on the church after widespread protests. Of those remaining, she said about 30% are elderly. “Several of those priests were already retired with illnesses but have to return to service until they die,” Molina told OSV News. “And what happens when these priests die and no one can be ordained?”
At least 304 members of the clergy—including prelates, priests, nuns, and seminarians—have been forced into exile or denied reentry after traveling abroad, according to Molina. She also suggested that Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo may be seeking new church leadership more supportive of their regime. However, she noted that Pope Leo XIV has publicly supported the exiled bishops.
Attempts at ordaining new clergy have reportedly been blocked by authorities. Bishop Herrera was exiled after criticizing local officials for harassment during Mass but had previously managed to travel to Matagalpa for ordinations before his exile. In another case, Father Frutos Constantino Valle Salmerón remains confined to a seminary and unable to perform public ministry after being detained by police who prohibited scheduled priestly ordinations.
Despite continued interest among young men in joining religious life, Molina said many now question whether it is worth pursuing studies if ordination is not possible: “The young men are asking themselves: Why study here if we’re not going to be ordained?” Restrictions on religious activities continue across Nicaragua; processions must stay within church grounds and police monitor Masses closely. Religious orders have left the country while Catholic schools and charities have lost legal status.
International pressure has increased on Nicaragua over political prisoners following recent events involving other regional governments allied with Managua. A source familiar with Nicaraguan politics told OSV News that current leaders aim to keep U.S. attention focused elsewhere by making limited concessions.
