Nicaragua Becomes Designated Country of Concern on Annual Report | EWTN News Nightly

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The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report last week detailing the increase of religious violations around the world. The main focus of the report is to highlight countries that violate religious freedom and bolster US efforts to advance freedom of religion in those countries. 12 countries including Nicaragua and Nigeria were designated countries of concern. 11 countries were listed as the State Department's special watch list. The study is based off of information collected in 2022. President of Global Liberty Alliance, Jason Poblete, joins to share whether it surprises him to see countries like Nicaragua, Cuba and Nigeria on the list of countries of concern. A recent report by researcher and lawyer, Martha Patricia Molina, titled "Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?" documents over 500 attacks perpetrated by the Daniel Ortega dictatorship in the last 5 years. 90 of those attacks have been committed so far in 2023. Poblete tells us about the rise of anti-Catholicism in Socialist-controlled nations in Latin America. Attacks by the Ortega regime include unjustly sentencing Bishop Rolando Alvarez to over 26 years in prison, expelling 32 religious leaders from the country and confiscating 7 Church-owned buildings. During Holy Week, the faithful were also banned from taking part in religious demonstrations. Poblete discusses how the US can step in and help the faithful in the Central American country. He fills us in on what else he is following. ------------ EWTN News Nightly provides the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Join host Tracy Sabol, our Capitol Hill, White House and Rome Correspondents, as well as many other diverse guests daily, to get the latest from the U.S. and the Vatican on topics regarding our Catholic faith and interests. ------------- EWTN News Nightly airs on EWTN weekdays at 6pm & 9pm ET. ------------ Don't miss an episode of EWTN New Nightly. Get updates here: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/ewtn-news-nightly ------------- Sign up today to receive the EWTN News Nightly newsletter: https://www.ewtn.com/enn ------------- Follow EWTN News Nightly on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnnewsnightly Twitter: https://twitter.com/EWTNNewsNightly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewtnnewsnightly/ ------------- Subscribe to EWTN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/EWTN ------------- You can support the EWTN News mission: https://bit.ly/3qDR1qf