A major human rights crisis was triggered after police forces and pro-government groups cracked down on nationwide protests that began in April 2018 against a series of reforms mandated by President Daniel Ortega.
Latin America
Posted inEditorials, Politics & Society
The Editors: To protect the Amazon, we must first listen to its people
October’s Synod on the Amazon gives the church an opportunity to hear the cries of the earth and the people of this richly diverse, life-giving and fragile region.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis urges action to save burning Amazon rainforest
Describing the Amazon rainforest as “vital for our planet,” Pope Francis joined the regions bishops in praying for action to extinguish the massive fires burning there.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Latin American bishops sound the alarm: “If the Amazon suffers, the world suffers”
A record number of wildfires and the rapid deforestation of the Amazon are prompting Latin American bishops to plead for international action, writes America’s correspondent in Brazil, Eduardo Campos Lima.
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican investigates sexual abuse allegation against Chilean president’s uncle
The investigation will determine the credibility of an accusation of abuse allegedly committed “more than 50 years ago” by Archbishop Pinera who, at 103, is the oldest living bishop in the world.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Brazil has one of the most violent prison systems in the world. Can the Catholic Church help?
Deadly riots regularly occur in the third-largest prison system in the world, reports Eduardo Campos Lima, and Brazilian authorities are restricting the practice of religion rather than address overcrowding, gang activity and other problems.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
With Venezuela in a free fall, its bishops call out the government
The country’s bishops, along with the rest of Catholic Church and the citizenry of Venezuela, have lived in the unfolding chaos that has driven at least 3 million out of the country.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
The Mothers of La Candelaria continue their search for Colombia’s ‘disappeared’
Progress continues to be slow as local officials do not have the capacity to respond to the high number of investigations, and some families of disappeared persons remain wary of collaborating with authorities.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Senators oppose Trump refugee cuts on religious freedom grounds
“At a time when we are facing the ‘highest levels of displacement on record,’ according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, we urge you to increase the refugee resettlement cap and to admit as many refugees as possible within that cap,” the letter reads.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Trinidadians step up to aid Venezuelan migrants when government steps back
Venezuelan migrants, fleeing violence and political instability at home, had been trickling into the island nation for several years. That trickle became a wave in 2018 as inflation soared and food shortages became acute.