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PAGE 2—The Georgia Bulletin, July 19, 1984 Nicaragua Expulsion Of Priests Draws Worldwide Protest BY AGOST1NO BONO (NC News Service) The July expulsion of 10 foreign priests from Nicaragua has resulted in strong international church solidarity, led by Pope John Paul II, with the Nicaraguan bishops in their widening conflict with the Sandinista government. It also has harmed the international image of the Nicaraguan government, which has been courting Catholic support since coming to power in a 1979 revolution. But there are still hopes for reconciliation between the church and the government, as shown in various comments by church leaders since the expulsions. The priests were expelled July 9 in government retaliation for a church-sponsored march to protest the government arrest of another priest on subversion charges. The march was led by Archbishop Miguel Obando Bravo of Managua, and some of the expelled priests participated in it. The government said the expulsions were necessary because the priests planned to “provoke a confrontation between the church and the state.” The Nicaraguan Bishops’ Conference called the government action “a persecution in its confrontation with the church.” “It is not an isolated incident but part of a strategy aimed at weakening, discrediting and intimidating the church,” said a July 12 communique signed by Auxiliary Bishop Bosco Vivas Robelo of Managua, secretary of the bishops’ conference. Archbishop Obando Bravo decreed 10 days of prayers in the Managua Archdiocese for “the church which suffers in Nicaragua and for those who have caused this suffering.” The days of prayer started July 15. Good relations with the Catholic Church are crucial for the government because 90 percent of the nation’s 2.8 million population professes Catholicism. Yet the expulsions, part of a government effort to stifle domestic dissent at a time when it is fighting U.S.-backed guerrillas, has further angered the Nicaraguan bishops and rallied international church support for them. Harper’s Flowers THREE GENERA TIONS SERVING ATLANTA SINCE 1921 8-5:30 Weekdays 8-12 00 Saturdays 876-5766 1300 Spring St, N.W. Entrances on Spring St. 4 16 th St. We accept all major credit cards Returning To Earning Is Easy With Kelly! There’s no time like the present to start earning good money with your office skills. Whether you’re ready to make a bright comeback to the working world or just want a new change of pace temporary job, Kelly Services will make it easy and enjoyable. We have all kinds of exciting positions for high skills. Assignments that are close to home, flexi ble in schedule and accompanied by excellent salaries and our customary Kelly fringes. CALL for Appointment. 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He called the Sandinista action “unjustified and deterimental to the cause of justice and peace.” Bishop Malone also favored renewed dialogue between church and government to “reduce the internal and external tensions of that troubled country.” Also vigorously protesting the expulsions were bishops in other Central American countries, Spain and West Germany. Criticism from the U.S. bishops is harmful to Nicaragua because the bishops have been generally critical of U.S. policy toward that country. The Sandinistas claim the United States is primarily responsible for their domestic problems through its support of rebel groups. The U.S. bishops have been urging the Reagan administration to emphasize diplomatic contacts and economic aid over military action in its dealings with Nicaragua. In a July 12 speech to State Department officials, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago said that “resort to covert action (by the United States) erodes respect for law - even if it is done in the name of freedom.” He also denounced the expulsion of the 10 priests, but added that U.S. refusal to “provide economic aid which is needed for humanitarian reasons” undercuts U.S. “leverage” for achieving human rights goals in the country. Meanwhile, the Sandinistas, in an effort to improve their image with Catholics after the expulsions, named a priest, Jesuit Father Fernando Cardenal, as minister of education. Father Cardenal had been an adviser to the Sandinista You’ll flip at the fantastic savings at The Sampler The Sampler 325-4147 2105 N. Decatur Road 1 At Clairmont Superior Care, Inc. 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The priests have retained the posts under a 1981 agreement with, the bishops by which they suspended their public priestly activities while holding their non-church jobs. After being named education minister. Father Cardenal predicted the Sandinistas would win the Nov. 4 national elections, the first elections to be scheduled since they came to power, and the church would have to accept the situation. The Nicaraguan bishops, however, in their July 12 communique warned that having priests in government positions does not indicate smooth church-state relations. “The fact that some priests and religious hold political and government posts is not considered by the church as a sign of benevolence toward it, especially at a time when it serves only to conceal the true situation of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua,” said the communique. Despite opposition by the bishops, many Nicaraguan priests, Religious and laity continue to support the government and are active in Sandinista grassroots organizations. Many fought with the Sandinistas in the civil war which toppled the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza and feel the current government has measurably improved the life of the poor, who are the majority of Nicaraguans. Initially, the bishops gave cautious support to the Sandinistas - a broad coalition of Socialists, Christian Democrats and Marxists. But their opposition began growing over issues of freedom of the press and religious broadcasting media, treatment of the Miskito Indians, and a military conscription law which the bishops said was aimed at indoctrinating youths with Sandinista ideology. Tensions with the government grew when the bishops in 1983 urged Catholic conscientious objection to military service and in 1984 when they asked the government to negotiate with the guerrillas. Interior Minister Tomas Borge called the negotiation statement a “criminal suggestion.” * The July conflict developed after a Nicaraguan priest, Father Luis Amado Pena, was arrested and charged by the government with meeting a guerrilla agent to plan anti-government activities. Archbishop Obando Bravo organized a protest march in support of Father Pena. The archbishop said the evidence against the priest was fabricated. On July 9 the 10 priests were expelled. Some of the priests said they participated in the march while others said they did not. The government said they were expelled because their residency visas had expired. Margaret Mary Cadigan Attorney At Law Wills, Contracts, Business 809 Myrtle St. 876-4170 Atlanta, Ga. (Midtown) Norman Medford Funeral Home "Our Prices Very Reasonable" Call for Information about our Services 1408 Canton Highway - Marietta, Ga. Ph. 427-8447 Home Made Italian Ices & Pastries NOW OPEN IN PINE LAKE PLAZA ROCKBRIDGE ROAD STONE MOUNTAIN
