Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
WEKU
WEKU
The Associated Press

Nicaragua frees a jailed Catholic bishop and 18 priests, hands them to the Vatican

Rolando Alvarez, bishop of Matagalpa, gives a news conference regarding the Roman Catholic Church's agreeing to act as "mediator and witness" in a national dialogue between members of civil society and the government in Managua, Nicaragua, May 3, 2018. (Moises Castillo/AP)

MEXICO CITY — Nicaragua's government said Sunday it released a prominent Catholic bishop and 18 other clergy members imprisoned in a crackdown by President Daniel Ortega and handed them over to Vatican authorities.

Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the other clergy were jailed more than a year ago, in most cases, as part of a crackdown on the opposition and Catholic Church by Ortega. He had accused them of supporting massive 2018 civic protests that he claimed were a plot to overthrow him.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.