Diario las Américas., 1958-02-23
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The Catholic Church and The
DYnasiie Regime Of Nicaragua

In Latin America, the Catho-
lie Church is identifying itself
more and more with popular
causes of sound moral orienta-
ton and for that reason, the &C.
clesiastic authorities must come
face to face with certain re-
gimes that constitute, in the
political field, the negation of
human dignity and of the free
: doms inherent in citizenship.
The attitude of the church is
basically manifested in the de-
tense of the moral values of the
community, which are always
in. conflict with a certain type
of a%utocratic governments.
In such a noble and dignifying
struggle, the illustrious Bishop
of Matagalpa, in the Republic
of Nicaragua, was the leading
figure in an incident that devel-
oped between the high church
authorities of Nicaragua and the
governing dynasty.
Monsignor Octavio Jose Cal
deron y Padilla protested before
the government for condoning
gambling, which is incompatible
with public morals, and which he
most energetically condemned.
AS a result of this, the Prelate
was treated by the authorities
in such manner that he was
prompted to issue a public
protest. The incident had not
become, perhaps, a national case
if the Head of the State had
not tried to minimize its inn
portance during a press confer
ence with words that forced the
vigorous and proud Bishop of
Matagalpa to state: SIT sounds
very strange to me that the
President of the Republic has
said that the incident was of
no Importance. The President
himself, during a press confer
ence, said that Nicaragua needed
many priests and protestant min
listers to Christianize the people
and lead them to righteousness,
and then concluded with these
words, which echoed all over
the Catholic community of Nj
caragua, that loves rectitude and
courage: Regardless of the
disreSpect / may be subjected
to, l will follow the rules Of
morality
In view of the governmental
Indifference; in view of the lack
Of interest shown by the Chief
of the State and by the Chief
of the Army the brothers
Luis and Anastasio Somoza,
respectively who, within the
sui generis reality of Nicaragua
control all the Organs of
Public Power, the Bishop of
Matagalpa Travelled to the
capital city of Managua, where
all the ~illustrious Prelates Of
the Nation got together. From
\ that meeting emerged a highly
significant letter addressed by
all the Bishops to the President
voicing their protest for the in
suits preferred in his own ju-
risdiction against the distinguish
ed minister of the Bishopric of
Matagalpa and also for the inn
prudent statements Ito say the
least made by the Chief of
State in reference to the incl
dent.
Later, in. view of the result
ing crisis of a national scope,
and in. view of the support Of
the Nicaraguan people to their
virtuous and illustrious spiritual
leaders, the counselors of the
dynasty recommended to the
President and to the Chief of
the Army that they reply in
a respectful manner, with apollo
gies, to the denunciation of the
Bishopric of Nicaragua, that, for
the sake Of appearances, would
put an end to the incident.
For those who are familiar
with the reactions of the Latin
American, people, this incident
is highly transcendent morally
and politically. The warnings
advanced from the cool attitudes
of Matagalpa by the disciple of
Christ --Monsignor Calder6n y
Padilla- in defense of morality,
have resounded throughout the
Republic and possibly have con-
tributed t. create a political
environment that at the last
moment led to the Presidents
attitude with regard to fathering
a constitutional amendment -
rejected by him before - that
would eliminate the ominous
threat of dictatorial and dynas'
tic continuism in the govern
ment, f%orbidding presidential re
election and anti Republican sue
cession by close relatives of the
President.