Tras el anuncio del cierre de siete radios católicas el 1 de agosto, la policía informó que investigaba al obispo de Matagalpa, monseñor Rolando Álvarez, por la presunta organización de grupos violentos que ejecutarían “actos de odio contra la población”.Álvarez es uno de los obispos más críticos de Ortega. Desde 2018 pidió cambios estructurales en el poder electoral para lograr “efectivamente la democratización del país”. También ha exigido la libertad de unos 190 “presos políticos” y el mes pasado realizó un ayuno para que cesara la “persecución policial” en su contra. Por Gabriela Selser y Maria T. Hernández. Texto Completo -> APNews

︎For English text, use Google’s translator at the bottom ︎

Hidden from the visible impact of complex humanitarian crises are the tough choices women in low-income communities often have to make between catering to their own critical needs and providing food and other basics for their families. In Venezuela’s northern region, the Lutheran church is supporting women to access safe and affordable menstrual hygiene, while empowering them to establish alternative income sources and discuss early prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). Full Text -> The Lutheran World Federation

Traducción de cortesía -> Ocultas del impacto visible de las crisis humanitarias complejas están las difíciles decisiones que las mujeres de las comunidades de bajos ingresos a menudo tienen que tomar entre satisfacer sus propias necesidades críticas y proporcionar alimentos y otros artículos básicos para sus familias. En la región norte de Venezuela, la iglesia luterana está apoyando a las mujeres para que accedan a una higiene menstrual segura y asequible, al tiempo que las empodera para establecer fuentes alternativas de ingresos y discutir la prevención temprana de la violencia de género.

On Sunday, dozens of parishioners listened and participated in the ceremony from the comfort of their cars. Adhering to coronavirus restrictions, priests perform the ceremony and approach the cars only to deliver the host in the hand of the parishioners during communion. Full Text -> RepublicWorld

There, Caritas is taking a new approach to guarantee the population is not abandoned. One example is its continued work delivering meals to those most in need. The project is called “Olla comunitaria,” meaning “community pot.” In 2019, they launched 865 initiatives like this one, distributing around 87,291 servings of food. By Daniel Díaz Vizzi

While the cardinal acknowledged the lockdown has prevented the spread of the virus, he pointed out that “the quarantine has hurt a great many people because the economic, social and logistical conditions in the country weren’t taken into account,” including “the extremely serious problem of the gasoline shortage for transport, especially for food.” Full Text -> National Catholic Register

By positive neutrality, Church leaders mean the effort to engage leaders on both sides of the conflict while pushing for democratic elections, humanitarian aid and political dialogue. They denounce the Maduro government for its bleak human rights record and denial of Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis. They also criticize the opposition for violent protests and unwillingness to negotiate. By David Smilde and Hugo Pérez Hernáiz. Full Text -> The Conversation

One parish priest has taken a revolutionary approach to the coronavirus quarantine in his diocese. He is choosing to treat this time of confinement as a spiritual retreat, both for himself and for his parish flock. By Ramon A. Perez. Full text -> Aleteia

“Today, March 10, the Venezuelan people have returned to the streets demanding their rights and manifesting their desire for a change of direction in the economy and the political order to permit democracy,” the president of the Venezuelan bishops’ conference, Archbishop José Luis Azuaje of Maracaibo, said in a statement. Full text-> Catholic News Agency

As the people of Venezuela continue to suffer severe food and medication shortages due to hyperinflation, the Church is also affected, said Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino last week. Full text-> CNA

For Miguel Guilarte who works for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as the manager of public affairs, what he witnessed last week at the border of Venezuela-Colombia border was harrowing.By Allyson Escobar, Full text-> The Tablet