In a move that managed to shock yet again Nicaragua’s persecuted Catholic community, the Nicaraguan government has officially revoked the legal status of the Caritas Diocesan Association of Matagalpa. The decision, announced on August 12, also affects 14 other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) within the diocese, marking yet another episode in the ongoing crackdown on religious and civil society groups in the country.
The revocation was formalized by Nicaragua’s Ministry of the Interior, headed by Minister María Amelia Coronel. The official notice, published in the Gaceta, the country’s official gazette, cited “non-compliance” with legal obligations as the reason for the move.
Specifically, Caritas of Matagalpa was accused of failing to submit its financial statements from 2020 to 2023 and of allowing its board of directors to remain in office beyond the expiration of its term on September 27, 2022, according to Vatican News.
Local Caritas offices are part of the Church's official charity network, Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas of Matagalpa has significantly helped the people in the region since its inception on March 26, 2009. The organization has played a pivotal role in improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable populations in the department of Matagalpa. Its work has focused on developing remote communities by prioritizing essential services such as health care and education for those most in need. The revocation of its legal status is not just a bureaucratic maneuver, but a significant blow to the Catholic Church’s efforts to serve the marginalized.
This action comes amid escalating tensions in Matagalpa, where a series of arrests and expulsions of priests have created a climate of fear and uncertainty. The government’s move is part of a broader campaign that has seen more than 3,600 NGOs banned and their assets seized and transferred to the state since December 2018. The assets of Caritas and the other affected organizations will now be administered by the Nicaraguan Attorney General’s Office.
In addition, local media have reported a police operation at the Cathedral of Matagalpa, where plainclothes officers allegedly detained administrative staff and made threats against the clergy. This adds to concerns about the government’s growing authoritarianism and its impact on religious freedom in Nicaragua.
For the Catholic community and those who have benefited from the work of Caritas, this is a moment of profound uncertainty. The future of these (oftentimes essential) services hangs in the balance as the state takes control of assets that once offered real help and support to the most vulnerable.
