Mission Report: Nicaragua: November 2011

Missionary Trip to Nicaragua—Reported by Mario Rojas, August 2011

In October 2006, Nicaragua’s legislature banned all abortions, eliminating exceptions for rape and when the life of the mother is threatened. The vote was interesting and revealed how Nicaraguans feel about abortion. It passed unopposed, 52 to 0, with 9 absences and 29 representatives not showing up to vote. The measure was approved by the former president, Enrique Bolaños.

By banning all abortions, Nicaragua became a target of international organizations and developed nations who promote sexual and reproductive health (which includes therapeutic abortion) as women rights. As a result, it is very common to hear accusations against the current government of Nicaragua for not promoting changes in favor of the rights for women. One of the latest examples occurred this past July, when Amnesty International demanded that therapeutic abortion be permitted when the life of a woman is in danger and also when there has been a rape.

HLI MISSION TRIP

In order to help the pro-life and pro-family movement in Nicaragua, HLI decided to send Fr. Juan Carlos Chavez, Director of the Latin American Network of Priests and Seminarians for Life (REDESSVIDA) and Mario Rojas, Latin American Director of Coordination of Vida Humana Internacional (the Hispanic division of HLI). The idea was to speak in as many locations as possible about the Gospel of Life and denounce the different aspects of the culture of death. At every seminary we visited, we discussed the culture of death at length, and we especially treated the question of how so-called “safe sex” leads to the wide use of contraception, which then leads to unwanted pregnancy and abortion.

Mario Rojas speaking to around 500 parishioners of San Blas Parish.

Nicaragua was the 19th country visited by our Latin American Network of Priests and Seminarians for Life since its inception in August 2009.

Our local affiliate in Nicaragua (ANPROVIDA), led by Dr. Rafael Cabrera and his group of volunteers, organized lectures in the cities of Chinandega, Leon, Esteli and Managua; reaching priests, seminarians, contemplative nuns, pro-life and pro-family groups, students from universities and high school, as well as parishioners.

BACKGROUND

The current population of Nicaragua is about 5.7 million, and the main religions are: Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Jehovah’s Witness 1.6%, other Christian 1.6%. Fifteen percent claim no religion at all. Nicaragua’s fertility rate is 2.12 children per family.

LECTURES IN CHINADEGA AND LEON

With the blessing of Monsignor Bosco Vivas Robelo, Bishop of the Diocese of Leon (which includes the cities of Chinandega and Leon) an agenda was organized with the active support of Fr. Efrain Tijerino, Vicar of the Pastoral for the Family of the Diocese of Leon; Fr. Victor Morales, head of communications of the Diocese of Leon; and a local pro-life group (Fundacion Don de la Vida).

Mario Rojas explains the contagious process of STD to students.

In Chinandega, lectures were given to 15 diocesan priests, 10 contemplative nuns of Saint Claire Monastery, 150 high school students, 5 teachers of Catholic schools, and at least 500 parishioners of San Blas Parish.

At the end of the lecture, Fr. Victor Morales said, “The lecture ‘Consequences of Sex before and outside Marriage,’ was very timely, calling attention to the threats against life and faith.”

In Leon, we gave an interview to Magnificat Catholic Radio. We spoke to about 1,000 high school and university students and 10 teachers, including Brother Manuel Estrada, President of Lasalle Technical University. We also gave a lecture to about 500 parishioners after a pro-life Mass at La Merced parish, where several pregnant women received special blessings.

One highlight of the visit to Leon was the lecture given to the students. After the lecture, Brother Manuel Estrada, President of La Salle Technical University, said, “Thank you, Mario, for the well presented lecture. It was presented brilliantly, with enough clarity for all present to understand. I believe most of the students were receptive to the message.”

Partial view of lecture to High School and University students.

Another highlight of the visit to Leon was a lecture given to 17 priests of the Diocese of Leon. Most of the priests were quite receptive to the information provided about population control, the threats of the culture of death, and REDESSVIDA services. At the end of the lecture, Fr. Julio Reyes, Pastor of Santa Rosa de Lima Parish resolved to open a pastoral for life in his parish.

LECTURES IN THE CITIES OF ESTELI AND MANAGUA

In Esteli, we gave an interview at San Jose Catholic TV, in which we discussed the consequences of population control and demographic winter. Next, we gave a lecture on post abortion syndrome to about 300 parishioners after a pro-life Mass at the Cathedral. In Managua, we were interviewed by a very popular television program.

Mario speaking to seminarians at Lady of Fatima Inter-Diocesan Seminary.

We gave a lecture to 62 seminarians and 3 priests at the Managua Diocesan Seminary of La Purisima and another to about 112 seminarians and 3 teacher priests including the Dean of the inter-Diocesan seminary of Fatima.

CONCLUSION

This mission trip to Nicaragua was a great success. We were able to give our two-hour presentation on the threats of the culture of death to 32 diocesan priests. And at least one of these priests spoke out about his resolve to open a Pastoral for Life in his parish.

Our efforts to bring the Gospel of Life to Nicaragua would not have been possible without the generous support of benefactors like you. Thank you so much, and may the Lord bring you good health and joy in your daily activity.