In a climate of tensions and violence in Nicaragua, the Provincial of Central America has published this statement.
 

Central American Province of the Society of Jesus

STATEMENT

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5, 9)

As it is already of public knowledge, Nicaragua is going through serious and growing political crisis. A peaceful outcome of such crisis is the unanimous wish and the firm compromise of the population, who is claiming for democracy, freedom and justice. There is already more than 100 Nicaraguans who have seen their lives stolen within around a month, only for supporting such a constitutional and ethic demand.

The Society of Jesus, present in the country since 1916, has joined its voice to this public outcry and compromise. Our human, ethic and christian convictions require us to share, to support and to defend pacific means to resolve the conflict. We are still in time to try and avoid further radicalism, more bloodshed and more pain. Those who wants peace does not make war, those who does not want violence, do not assault, nor pursue, nor abuse or intimidate.

We have been informed, from a reliable source, that the physical integrity and life of father José Alberto Idiáquez, SJ, Rector of the Central American University of Nicaragua (UCA), is in great danger. Father Idiáquez has been threatened due to his involvement in the Round Table for the Dialogue convened by the Episcopal Conference, for being beside the students; for defending the human rights of those who are peacefully and legitimately claiming their constitutional rights; for his continuous claims to the Nicaraguan Government to give any concrete sign that the peace they pretend  to search shall be a fruit of Justice and democratic engagement, and for joining the University as such, to that effort of the Nicaraguan people.

Father Arturo Sosa, SJ - General of the Society of Jesus resident in Rome-  has communicated such information and with his support, and on behalf of all jesuits from Central America and of all lay people who adhere the forty institutions that we conduct together with the sole desire to serve the Central American peoples, I hold the Nicaraguan Government responsible for any aggression or attack that the father José Alberto Idiáquez, SJ may suffer.

I make a call to those organizations of Human Rights, national and international, to the OAS (Organization of American States), to the United Nations, to the European Parliament, to all jesuits universities in the world, to all and every Church and to those  people engaged in defending the dignity of the human being, to strongly support the peaceful and negotiated resolution to the tragic situation that the country is living, and to demand respect for the physical integrity of all Nicaraguans who, as father Idiáquez SJ, the Episcopal Conference, the university students and other members of the civil society comprising the Round Table for the dialogue, are working for a peace fruit of Justice.

Rolando Alvarado SJ
Provincial de Centro América

Read the statement in Spanish

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