Bishops of Nicaragua slam article by presidential advisor accusing the Church of corruption

Managua, Nicaragua, May 6, 2009 / 08:30 am

The Bishops’ Conference of Nicaragua issued a statement this week strongly rejecting an "article" by presidential advisor Orlando Nunez Soto which "denounces" the supposed corruption of bishops and priests in the country. The bishops said the accusations were fictitious and were the "product of his imagination."

During a press conference, the president and the secretary general of the bishops’ conference, Bishop Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano and Bishop Socrates Rene Sandigo Jiron, respectively, denounced the article which Nunez sent to the First Lady, Rosario Murillo, and that was later posted on the internet, accusing the bishops of corruption.

In response to the accusations, the bishops explained that the sole purpose of the article was to "sully the image of the Church represented by her bishops and priests who are striving to maintain her prophetic fidelity and closeness to the poor and lowly."

"The article should be considered, as in fact it is, a product of his imagination without any basis, and couldn’t be further from the truth," they continued.

"Although we are open to forgiveness, we would ask that the origin of this document be clarified," the bishops demanded.

The Nicaraguan bishops also invited the faithful to pray to Rosary and increase their devotion to Mary especially during the month of May.