[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 99 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THREAT TO JESUITS IN NICARAGUA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Vargas) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of a very 
serious threat against a member of the Society of Jesus in Nicaragua by 
reading in the Congressional Record a declaration from the Jesuits West 
Province of the Society of Jesus.
  It is a letter written by Father Scott Santarosa, father provincial 
of the Society of Jesus for the West Province, and it reads like this:

       ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called 
     children of God.''--Matthew 5:9.
       As many of you know, Nicaragua is currently experiencing a 
     serious and increasing political crisis. The people who 
     demand democracy, freedom, and justice are firmly committed 
     to seeking a peaceful solution. There are already more than 
     153 Nicaraguans who have lost their lives in just over a 
     month of struggling toward such a resolution.
       The Society of Jesus, present in Nicaragua since 1916, has 
     joined the people in this commitment. Our human, ethical, and 
     Christian conviction requires us to share support and defend 
     a peaceful solution to the conflict.
       We still have time to avoid more polarization, more 
     bloodshed, and more pain. Honest dialogue and serious 
     negotiation are vital in order to achieve it, for whoever 
     wants peace does not assault, persecute, mistreat, or 
     intimidate.
       We have been informed by a reliable source that the life of 
     Father Jose Alberto Idiaquez, S.J., rector of the Central 
     American University, the UCA of Nicaragua, is in serious 
     danger.
       Father Idiaquez has been threatened for participating in 
     the National Dialogue convened by the Bishops' Conference, 
     for standing alongside the students, for defending the human 
     rights of those who are demanding respect for their 
     constitutional rights, for making continuous calls to the 
     Nicaraguan Government to give concrete signs that they too 
     seek justice and democracy, and for involving the university 
     in the efforts of the Nicaraguan people.
       Father general of the Society of Jesus, Father Arturo Sosa, 
     S.J., resident in Rome, has been informed of this threat. 
     With his support and on behalf of all of the Jesuits and 
     committed lay collaborators in Jesuits West, we stand with 
     the Jesuits of Central America and all of the lay people that 
     make up the 40 Jesuit institutions that serve the people of 
     Central America.
       We join Father Rolando Alvarado, S.J., provincial of 
     Central American Province, in holding the Nicaraguan 
     Government responsible for any aggression or attack that may 
     be suffered by Father Jose Alberto Idiaquez, S.J.
       I call on the national and international human rights 
     organizations, the Organization of American States, the U.N., 
     the European Parliament, and all Jesuit universities of the 
     world, the different churches, the U.S. Government, and all 
     of those committed to basic human dignity, to strongly 
     support the peaceful negotiations of a solution to the tragic 
     situation that the country is experiencing and demand respect 
     for the physical safety of all Nicaraguans who, like Father 
     Idiaquez, S.J., and the Bishop' Conference students, and 
     other members of the civil society who are participating in 
     the National Dialogue, are working for a lasting peace that 
     is borne from justice.

  It is signed by Father Scott Santarosa, S.J. He is, again, the 
provincial of the western province.
  As many of you will recall, back in 1989, a very similar threat was 
made against Father Ignacio Ellacuria of the UCA of El Salvador. 
Unfortunately, that threat ended in the death of Father Ellacuria, 
along with five other Jesuits at the UCA, the Central American 
University, as well as two lay people.
  I think this is a very serious threat that our country has to take a 
look at and demand that steps be taken to protect the life of all 
Nicaraguans, and particularly the students and the rector of the 
Central American University, the Jesuit institution there.

                          ____________________